Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships carried out decisive night air sorties destroying an LTTE mortar launching pad and a 'forward operating position' on Sunday (April 20), East of Adampan ahead of the Mannar battle front.

Air force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said that the air raid was launched around 10.30p.m., as a pre-emptive measure to assist the advancing ground troops engaged in counter terrorist offensives in the area.

The targeted LTTE mortar site was located in a jungle patch, 3-4 km, north of the Mannar FDLs, air force spokesperson added.

The air raid was successful; Air Force confirmed. According to defence sources, the air raid was followed with simultaneous heavy artillery attacks backed by the Army.