Troops from 53rd and 55th Divisions
had reached Elephant Pass (EPS),
President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday
announced.
The Defence Ministry said that it had
captured the entire stretch of the
Jaffna-Kandy (A9) road for the first
time in 23 years.
"Elephant Pass, the gateway to the
Jaffna peninsula is now under the total
control of security forces. Troops have
also gained total control over the 325km
long A9, Jaffna- Kandy road, after 23
years," the Defence Ministry said citing
military sources.
The Ministry further said that the
fall of EPS had deprived the LTTE the
most crucial strategic ground at the
Jaffna gateway, "following an eight year
odd occupation, which linked the Wanni
mainland with the Jaffna peninsula."
"With the fall of EPS, troops are now
poised at launching a decisive blow at
the remaining LTTE strongpoints at
Mulliyan, Chempiyanpattuwa, Chundikulama
and Kaddaikadu, defence observers
state," the Ministry further added.
