Mullativu Falls To SLA

SLA now has complete control of the Mullathivu town which had been under LTTE control for the last 13 years. SLA’s massive base complex in Mullathivu fell in July, 1996 when LTTE launched their first Unceasing Waves operation. An entire brigade (512) was wiped out from the military map. Nearly 1400 soldiers were killed. Only 66 soldiers including two officers were the only survivors. It was a massive defeat for any conventional army after the Vietnam war. Pro LTTE media claimed that they have lost only 332 carders in this entire operation.It was the first major victory for the LTTE.

However after 13 years the tables have turned. This time the LTTE carders are the ons who had to be on the receiving end. The first SLA units to enter Mullathivu town last morning were from the 59 division. A surprise attack was launched across the Nandikadal lagoon which flanked the LTTE dfence positions from the east forcing the tigers to flee.A number of LTTE cadres were killed in operations in and around Mullathivu town and bodies of 15 fallen tigers have been recovered by the army.

After laying siege to Mulaitivu from 3 different areas, the 59 Division finally entered Mulaitivu, a small island-like area across the Nanthikandal lagoon. The LTTE had started vacating the area prior to this. But the sources close to military revealed that small teams of LTTE carders are still trapped inside the town due to the surprise nature of the attack. Search and destroy operations are underway to find and destroy these teams.