For the first time in over two decades, the entire Jaffna Peninsula has been brought under the control of the government as the security forces overran Chundikulam on the northern coast earlier this week. The armed forces are now poised for the final assault on the last remaining LTTE stronghold deep inside Mullaitivu. According to the military the LTTE is confined to an area less than 600 square kilometres.
With the capture of Chundikulam the military now has full land access to the Jaffna mainland.
The security forces were able to deal a crippling blow to the so-called Sea Tiger base at Chundikulam when it captured around 100 small boats used by the LTTE which included those for suicide missions against naval and other craft.
In addition to the boats the security forces also captured four bulldozers and two trucks left behind by the retreating LTTE fighters, the sources said.
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| Armed forces on the liberated A 9 Road |
In further military gains this week, ground troops were also able to capture the sixth LTTE air strip at Iranamadu, thereby effectively shutting down the rebels air arm. “It is only a matter of time before their aircraft are located,” the sources said.
Also for the first time in its 25-year-old protracted war against the government, the LTTE is on the verge of losing its entire beach access.
At present the LTTE controls a mere 30-kilometre beach stretch between Chundikulam and Mullaitivu indicating that its only remaining sea supply route is in peril.
The LTTE is known to have earlier used this stretch of beach to bring in their arms shipments almost unchallenged.
The security forces also captured the village of Dharmapuram, while the Air Force scored direct hits on two heavy LTTE field guns while it was being towed by tractor from Chundikulam towards the Mullaitivu coast, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The Iranamadu Tank bund also fell to government forces on Friday.
Prior to the fall of Killinochchi the LTTE had shifted the main hospital and the Government Agent’s office to Dharmapuram. It is not clear now if they have been relocated elsewhere with the fall of Dharmapuram.
Meanwhile, security forces are consolidating their positions in the liberated areas of the Kilinochchi district focusing on de-mining operations and the removal of booby traps .
Military officials said it will be some time before it is safe for civilians to return to the area including the A9 highway since they have to be cleared of obstacles placed by the retreating LTTE.
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| LTTE HQ office in kilinochchi. Pix by Duminda Sanjeewa Balasooriya |
Defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said the LTTE was confined to a small area less than 25 square kilometres on the Mullaitivu coast and the security forces had surrounded the entire area by both land and sea.
He charged that the LTTE was forcibly holding on to the civilian population, using them as shields, in a bid to delay the impending military onslaught on their remaining positions.
He further added that the LTTE and their front organizations had exaggerated the civilian casualty figures in the area to gain the attention of foreign capitals.
The LTTE has repeatedly claimed that over 200,000 civilians have been caught up in the ongoing fighting. This figure could be half or even less, he said.
Mr. Rambukwella could not be drawn into comment when asked if the LTTE leadership have slipped out of the country but said there was still time for the LTTE to give up its weapons and surrender to the security forces.
In a related development, police and security forces had the additional task of burying the LTTE dead in the northern town of Vavuniya this week as the ICRC could not make contact with the LTTE to handover the bodies.Meanwhile, 59 trucks carrying 895 tonnes of food and other essential items rolled into the conflict zone in Wanni, World Food Programme (WFP) Chief Adnan Khan said. The items included rice, sugar, dhal, infant milk powder and cooking oil. It was also the first consignment to reach the conflict area since January 8.
WFP officials also said with the escalation in the fighting they were uncertain of their role in the Wanni. They said their decision to continue humanitarian operations would depend on the assurances given by the stake holders to the conflict.
They said usually ICRC vehicles escort the WFP convoys into the conflict areas but with ICRC officials finding it increasingly difficult to contact the retreating LTTE, there was concern for the safety of their staff who accompany the food convoys. | 
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