One must not belittle this victory as one that has been won by one community over another. It should not be interpreted as defeat of the North by the South. This is a victory for our entire nation and country.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The dawn of the New Year was indeed a special moment for the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. Within the space of 24 hours, the Army had overrun both Paranthan and Kilinochchi, effectively ending the LTTE’s de-facto state and setting the stage for control over the entire Jaffna peninsula. Indeed, the fall of Elephant Pass is only days away. The LTTE will be forced to retreat to Mullattivu but with the fall of Oddusuddan, it is a matter of time …

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The military have now taken the strategic western town of Pooneryn, thus opening up the A-32 highway that links Mantota and the former along the western flank of the Northern Province. This would enable the linking up (via the causeway that traverses the Jaffna lagoon) of the peninsula with the mainland for the first time since Eelam War II. Supplies, both economic and military could thus be transported to government-controlled Jaffna, providing relief to its people. Days after Pooneryn, the military claimed the town of Mankulam, also of high strategic value for being the crucial junction of the A-9 and A-34 highways, the latter that links Mullattivu to the former. This would be essential in a future push to capture …

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