“The LTTE's only remaining stronghold in the East- Thoppigala, will be under Government troop's control with in a very short period of time,” Eastern Army Commander Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya said yesterday talking to presspersons on an observation tour in Vakarai.

He pointed out that once Thoppigala is liberated from Tigers the total Eastern part of the country will be free from terrorist threats. 

According to Major General Pannipitiya, the physically powerful and morally high security forces will go ahead with their successive mission in liberating Thoppigala and the victory over the Tigers of the Eastern part of the country will be marked with their achievement.

Major General stressed that according to received information the activities of the LTTE carders are restricted only to five per cent of the total Thoppigala area. Further he added that amidst the impending military operations the Tigers, including leaders, are fleeing to Vanni area leaving their own carders aside.

He also added that after ensuring the security of the Eastern part, forces will immediately hand over the civil administration activities to the Government officials for them to commence with initially planned infrastructure development programmes to uplift the livelihood of the resettled civilians.

Major General Pannipitiya added referring to the resettlement of the internally displaced people, giving priority to the originally resided civilians, the resettlement of people in 79 Grama Niladari Divisions are will be completed shortly.

The resettlement of people in the recently cleared Grama Niladari Divisions of Porathivu, Vavunathivu and Pattipola will commence on May 14.

One more school is to be open out of the total of 12 schools functioned in Vakarai and for the public transportation facility the Government has provided eleven new buses which are currently operating in the area facilitating civilians with regular transportation to the close by key towns.