LTTE lose another 'Lt Colonel' as army enters Kilinochchi district

Yet another 'Lt. Colonel' ranked member of the LTTE was killed by the Sri Lanka Army in a confrontation that took place north of Kiriibbanwewa today.The female fighter, identified as 'Kumawei Thangeiamma' was killed while trying to resist the advance of the army's 59 division. Another 'Lt Colonel' of LTTE's women fighter wing was killed by the army on Tuesday (29th) north of Weli-oya.

Meanwhile infantry units of the 58 division and the 2 Commando regiment crossed the borders of Kilinochchci district last evening marking another significant milestone in the Wanni operation. The 58 division units secured an area of around 5 square miles and recovered bodies of 7 LTTE cadres as they laid siege to LTTE held Vellankulam.

In another front, small groups of soldiers from the 57 division kept hunting LTTE cadres south of Tunukkai. The 57 division aims to capture the town of Tunukkai, which plays a vital role in handling supplies between sea tiger bases in the western coast and LTTE bases in Wanni.

With forces breaking through LTTE defences into Kilinochchci district, the Wanni operation enters a more decisive phase. The army has achieved much progress in the operation so far but it has not been without sacrifices. For the first six months of 2008, nearly 650 soldiers have laid their lives for the motherland. A further 4400 suffered injuries. The LTTE has suffered from much higher casualty figures during the same period. According to LTTE released figures, the number of LTTE deaths for the first 6 months of 2008 is somewhere around 1100. According to military intelligence, the figures is a lot higher. The loss of cadres has prompted the LTTE to take forcible recruitment to the extremes; in some areas of Wanni military training is mandatory for all civilians between the ages of 18-60.