Troops of 632 Brigade (18 Vijayaba Regiment and 20 Sinha Regiment) discovered the runway, east of Iranamadu tank, adjoining the old Kandy road which runs via Olumadu.

The runaway, situated in the thick jungle, was surrounded by a massive line of bunkers and trenches. The area had been well protected by mine fields and booby traps, Director General of the Media Center for National Security, Lakshaman Hulugalle told The Island.

A hangar had been found in the complex. The damages to the hangar indicated that the fleeing Tigers had attempted to destroy it, he said.

However, none of the light planes used by the LTTE were recovered, Hulugalle said.

Ground commanders told The Island that the troops belonging to the Task Force three had entered the complex from the south.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the area had not been fully liberated. This could not be the main LTTE air strip as the one captured by 9 Singha Regiment commanded by Colonel Janaka Ariyaratne from Keppapularu, west of Mullaitivu lagoon was two and half kms long. Brigadier Nanayakkara said that he hoped the area would be brought under complete control within next hours.

The Security forces had earlier captured four LTTE airstrips situated in Panikkankulam, Iranamadu south and five km west of the Mullaitivu lagoon.

Troops have completely gained control of the Chundikulam area liberated by the 55th division under the command of Brigadier Prasanna Silva on Wednesday evening.