Sri Lanka launches offensive in the north to capture Tamil territory
Dated 9/9/2006
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Sri Lankan troops began making an advance out of their forward defence lines towards the Tamil Tigers in the northern Jaffna peninsular early Saturday morning, a defence official said.
Military source said the army began moving forward in government defence lines at Muhamalai, Kilali and Eluthumadduval in Jaffna to ensure consolidation of troop security from rebel onslaughts.
Clashes in Jaffna between the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels erupted on Aug 11 when the LTTE started attacking the military forward defence lines at Muhamalai.
A ferocious battle lasting nearly three weeks accounted for the deaths of over 500 combatants from both sides. The army managed to wade off the Tiger thrust completely with superior firepower.
Saturday's operation which aims to neutralise the LTTE's artillery capability in the Jaffna peninsula comes in the wake of military success in the eastern province, where troops overran the rebel stronghold of Sampur Monday.
The military engagements sparked off late July in spite of the Norwegian backed truce agreement.
Both sides have not formally withdrawn from the February 2002 ceasefire agreement and claim that each side was only responding to the other party's aggression.
The Sampur annexing by the troops was dubbed by the LTTE as a gross violation and it made public statements the agreement precludes both parties from annexing the other party's territory.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka vowed Friday the troops would advance further into rebels' territory in response to the LTTE call for withdrawal of troops from Sampur.
Clashes have caused widespread displacement of civilians in the conflict zones in the north and east.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimates over 230,000 had been displaced in the north and east since the beginning of April.
The city of Jaffna has faced severe food shortages and high prices due to scarcities despite the government's action to provide over 7,000 tonnes of food.
