Sri lanka Army captures Pooneryn

Sri lanka Army captures Pooneryn
The Military today(15th) captured the strategically important Pooneryn, which is the last LTTE stronghold in the western flank of the A-9 road.

Troops of Army Task Force 1 have entered LTTE bastion at Ponneryn this morning (Nov 15) scoring the greatest feat against terrorist in their courageous march along the northwestern coast of the Island.

Infantrymen of 12 Gamunu Watch (12 GW) and 10 Gajaba Regiment (10 GR) successfully negotiated the great marshlands south of Pooneryn last night , and cut off the Pooneryn- Paranthan road (B-69) close to Nallur before dawn today. Troops then marched about 10 Km along the B-69 and entered into the Pooneryn town , where the terrorists have their last bastion on the West coast.

According to the defence sources at the field terrorists have given a stiff resistance to the advancing troops . Pitched battles are still going in the area, the sources said. The terrorists are fast withdrawing towards the K- Point.

More:http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20081115_02

President congratulates troops
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in special message congratulated the troops on capturing Pooneryne. He also urged the LTTE leader to lay down arms and come for talks.

Addressing the nation through the state media, President Rajapaksa declared the Army's victory at Poonaryn and congratulated the soldiers. He also expressed his gratitude to the citizens of the country who have been sharing his vision to rid the country of terrorism and to free the next generation from the horrors of war.

The President's speech in full:

I inform the people in this country that our heroic soldiers have been able to liberate the full stretch of the A-32 road (Mannar- Pooneryn) and the Poonaryn area this morning. Now, we can open a land route to the Jaffna Peninsula after many years ; I think we can say , it was after the Second Eelam war .

At this moment, I very clearly call Prbhakaran of LTTE to immediately lay down your arms and come to the negotiation table. It is the greatest service that you can do to the people in the Wanni.

We congratulate the war heroes and express our sincere gratitude to the citizens of Sri Lanka who have given their unstinted support to our struggle.

See Battle Progress Map:http://www.defence.lk/orbat/Default.asp