Iranamadu (Sri Lanka) Jan 06: Sri Lankan troops are in
full control of this air strip from where Tamil Tigers
launched many a surprise air raids deep into government
controlled areas including the capital Colombo, but there is
yet no inkling of the fate of air force of the LTTE.
Sri Lankan Army liberated the sensitive Iranamadu, known
for LTTE airstrips, recently, which is located a few
kilometers away from its de-facto capital Kilinochchi. But
apparently the Tigers had moved their Czech made fighters.
And the government forces are also within striking
distance of two more Air Tiger air strips located just outside
the LTTE's last bastion of Mullaittivu and hope to obliterate
the Tiger's fledgling Air arm.
A select team of media persons were taken around the run
down Iranamadu town, where grenade shells and some material
left by the retreating LTTE fighters were found.
"As per our estimates as many as 4073 LTTE fighters have
been killed in the past 14 months, while the LTTE intercepts
admit they have lost 3,447 cadres with injuries to another
2197 of their fighters", Major Gen NAJC Dias, the General
Officer Commanding of the 57 division told reporters.
LTTE created a sensation when it sent its aircraft in
May last year to bomb Colombo and the planes took off from the
Iranamadu air strip. One was reportedly shot down by the Sri
Lankan security forces.
Defence officials said that the capture of Iranamadu will
definitely deal a blow to the "air power" aspirations of the LTTE
but admitted that they were not sure whether air strips
existed elsewhere in areas now controlled by the Tiger
militants.
For some time now, the Air Tigers have not been seen
flying.
The Sri Lankan troops now are closing in on Mullaittivu,
considered to be military headquarters of LTTE and the main
base of the Sea Tigers.
The fall of the last LTTE's town could be a death blow to
both the Sea Tigers as well as Air Tigers and leave rebels
with what they started as -- guerrilla fighter.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, January 06, 2009, 00:00