Troops of the 57 Division engaged a number of terrorist targets in the outskirts of Kilinochchi yesterday (23) during their daring offensives advancing towards the LTTE heartland.

The fighting erupted during yesterday (23) wee hours when the troops of  12 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and 9 Gajaba Regiment launched a pre-dawn attack on terrorists in Adampan, about 7.5 km west of Kilinochchi town centre. Terrorist concentrations in the area fell apart making them take to run for life. At the end of the five hour-long confrontations, 12 SLSR and 9 GR soldiers captured about 2 sq km patch earlier held by the terrorists, Army media unit sources said.

Giving a different punch on the face, 3 GR troops in the meantime smashing terrorist strong points in Pudumurippukulam area, west of Kilinochchi, fought a fierce battle using small arms and heavy weapons against the terrorists who withdrew further north. This round of fighting that commenced around 11.00 a.m. continued till about 1.00 p.m, Army media unit said.

Meanwhile, 8 and 10 Sri Lanka Light Infantry troops advancing towards Murukkandy junction along the Akkarayankulam road were also able to dominate a stretch of road more than 1 km by yesterday (23) afternoon.

Similarly, troops of the 17 Gamunu Watch, 12 GR and 8 SLSR operating under the Task Force I, in offensives conducted during wee hours yesterday (23), destroyed LTTE strong points built on the LTTE earth bund in the north of Adampan . 

Troops were consolidating their positions at the time this edition went to the press.