In the wake of historic military achievements in Thoppigala, the last stronghold of the LTTE terrorists in the east of Sri Lanka after an absence of nearly fourteen years, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army flew to Thoppigala this morning, Friday the 13th of July, to express their gratitude to valiant troops and all other service personnel.

Visiting Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka and the team of Army officers were received by the Commander of the Commando Brigade that captured the center of Thoppigala Brigadier C. Gallage. They first reached Illuppadichenai where the visiting military chiefs met senior officers serving the area and praised them for their dedication.

They spoke to senior officers gathered there and further instructed them to get on with follow-up clearing operations and assist and coordinate with authorities in launching subsequent development plans upon clearing of minefields and booby traps.

Their second stop was the rocky plateau, Ruchiramale, where the LTTE terrorists have had their Nagesh base earlier. Commander of the Army spoke to his soldiers and congratulated them on their dedication and commitment for the sake of the Motherland and exchanged a couple of views with them. Commander ensured that those soldiers serving in two different locations in the area received his appreciation as a symbolic gesture.

Both Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army lauded their contribution to salvage the country from vicious grips of terrorism during these meetings before they saw for themselves a few buildings that had been used by the LTTE terrorists for their activities before the troops overran them.