by Shamindra Ferdinando

 bAfter fiercely resisting the Army’s advance on their positions on the neck of the Jaffna peninsula, the LTTE abandoned sections of its frontline, which Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara Wednesday evening told The Island troops had seized control of.

He said that fighting was continuing along an eight-kilometre-long stretch of land across the neck of the Jaffna peninsula.

Responding to The Island queries, he said troops had overwhelmed strong LTTE units and caused heavy damages.

The Task Force I (TF I), positioned west of Paranthan, had encountered an earth bund across the Pooneryn-Paranthan (B 69) road which runs southwards of Paranthan covering the Kilinochchi town area. The TF I troops already control of a section of the B 69 road

In support of ground operations, the SLAF Tuesday night bombed an LTTE strong point at Thirappuwadduwan, about ten kilometres northeast of Oddusuddan.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said that the Task Force III (TF III) had captured an armour plated Canter truck believed to have been used by self-styled Colonel Swarnam in the Mankulam area. The army said that the LTTE commander had moved into an area dominated by troops during the battle for Mankulam. Although, troops had fired at the vehicle, the LTTE commander had managed to escape leaving it behind.

The recovery was made within 24 hours after troops on the Weli Oya front seized a cab also used by a senior LTTE leader after a brief confrontation.