Army captured fully air-conditioned bunker and large haul of arms

Lanka Army 58 Division soldiers yesterday (Jan 31) scored a string of victories against the LTTE in the Visuamadu area with a loaded collection of battlefield trophies said Defence Ministry.

They further said, Infantrymen of 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (11 SLLI) operating under 582 Brigade captured a well fortified LTTE camp located south of Piramanthalkulam last morning.

Troops sweeping down the A-35 road (Paranthan - Mullaittivu) on west-east axis came across the LTTE camp located north of the 12th milepost around 11.20 AM. Troops captured the camp after beating off the LTTE in a pitched battle and found 9 bodies of LTTE cadres with an assortment of weapons. Two T-56 riffles, one M-16 Light Machine Gun (LMG) built in the USA, and nine USA made TIPPMAN A-5 chemical weapons were among the weapons found. Also, troops found a fully air-conditioned bunker built underground in the camp premises.

Meanwhile , infantrymen of 6 Gamunu Watch (6GW) maneuvering towards Challai lagoon captured a highly fortified LTTE camp located in the jungle , east of Puliyampokkanal on the same morning. Troops believe that the camp was used by the Black Tigers or the band of suicide bombers. Troops came across the camp on the eastern bank of the Piramanthal Aru, about 7 km north of the A-35 road around 11.30 AM and captured the camp after a heavy confrontation. Troops found 2 bodies of LTTE cadres along with a large haul of arms ammo listed below:

120 mm Mortar Guns 3
81 mm Mortar Guns 2
82 mm Mortar Gun 1
80 mm Mortar Guns 2
T56 Riffles 18
Multi Purpose Machine guns 6
Sniper Riffle 1
Thermo barrick weapons 2
Disposable Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPG) 8
Hand Grenades 59
Pistols 20
RPG launchers 3
RPG bombs 13
Claymore Mines 8
Arul Bombs 35
Detonators 100
Radio set 1
FMC Pistol Rounds 3000
Gas Mask 35
Helmets 48
Integrants tools 75
12.7 mm Tripod 01
Pouches 35

In the general area Kariyakvayal south, infantrymen of 9 GW attacked a terrorist group detected about 4 km west of Challai lagoon on the same morning. Both ground sources and intercepted LTTE radio transmissions reports confirmed heavy damages to the LTTE. Troops during subsequent search operations found 55 T- 56 riffles.

Meanwhile, snipers deployed in the forward areas of 58 Division claimed shooting down of 7 LTTE cadres during the day.

Counter terrorist operations are being continued with the terrorists fast withdrawing towards Challai.