25.12.2007
Ranil Wijayapala
Troops
yesterday took full control of Thampanai town on the Madhu
road in the Vavuniya - Mannar sector as Tiger cadres in
the area withdrew amid heavy resistance from advancing
troops, Military sources told the Daily News yesterday.
According
to senior military officials, the fall of Thampanai town
was a major breakthrough in the efforts of the Security
Forces to flush out Tiger threats from Mannar and Vavuniya
sectors and clear their path to Wanni.
Troops
moved into Thampanai from the north-west on Sunday evening
and took full control of the town yesterday morning after
completely flushing out Tiger cadres. "The Tiger
cadres withdrew amid stiff resistance from the Security
Forces yesterday morning," a senior Army official
told the Daily News.
"Troops
are engaged in search and clear operations in Thampanai
which is almost a ghost town after the LTTE withdrew from
the area," a senior military official added.
Thampanai
is three to four kilometres on the Madhu road from the
Mannar Vavuniya main supply route and stretches to nearly
four kilometres.
According
to senior Army officials troops faced stiff resistance
from the LTTE in all their earlier efforts to capture
this town, used by the LTTE to launch major assaults on
troops.
However,
Tiger cadres commenced withdrawing from the location as
troops cut off supplies to the town by sealing off the
only supply route to the town from the north-western side.
Troops
in Mannar and Vavuniya are advancing towards Tiger defences
inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE.
Troops
captured the Uyilanakulam LTTE entry exit point and a
major LTTE base south of Periyathampanai on Saturday.
Courtesy - Daily
News