The
Army yesterday (4) seized control of Sampur from the LTTE, after
almost two weeks of intense fighting, President Mahinda
Rajapakse said at the SLFP Convention at the BMICH yesterday.
Ground troops entered Sampur destroying a number
of smaller LTTE positions on the way and about 200 LTTE cadres
were killed. The troops were clearing the area of landmines and
explosive devices left by the fleeing Tigers.
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said last
Saturday that the Army would capture Sampur.
The operation to take Sampur was launched on
August 26 when the LTTE began to attack the military on either
side with artillery fire.
The Sampur LTTE camp was set up in violation of
the ceasefire agreement and it was used for attacks on security
positions in the East compelling the armed forces to
counter-attack and destroy it, sources also said.
In the fight to recapture Sampur, LTTE cadres
hemmed in on the east and west by troops gradually lost control
of their positions and were fleeing with some of their area
leaders such as Suwarnam and Bhanu also deserting their ranks,
sources said.
