Sri Lankan troops capture Elephant Pass

March 17th, 2009 LUCKNOW - An elephant has triggered panic in an Uttar Pradesh village after killing two people and injuring four in the last 10 days, an official said Tuesday. The elephant trampled a young man to death Monday evening in Nagraganja village of Basti district, 250 km from here.

January 24th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops Sunday dealt a body blow to the Tamil Tigers as they overcame fierce resistance to enter the northern town of Mullaitivu, the last major rebel bastion, the army said. Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said soldiers from the 59 Division were 'carrying out operations inside the town area', adding that its population had fled the zone.

January 24th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops fighting their way into the areas of the Tamil Tiger rebels Sunday captured the rebels' last major bastion of Mullaitivu, dealing severe body blow to the beleaguered rebel outfit, the island-nation's army chief said Sunday. 'Mullaitivu, the (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) LTTE garrison town has been completely captured by our heroic troops.

January 13th, 2009 COLOMBO - Stepping up its campaign against the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan troops Wednesday captured the last rebel landmass in Jaffna peninsula in the country's northern tip, military sources said. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops expanding their defences on the eastern flank of the recently captured Elephant Pass and Nagarkovil area 'have completely captured Chundikkulam and adjoining areas.

January 9th, 2009 COLOMBO - Striking another blow against the Tamil Tigers, advancing Sri Lankan troops Saturday captured a rebel airstrip in the jungle district of Mullaitivu, a day after dislodging the LTTE from the Jaffna-Kandy main highway in the north, military officials said. Claiming that this was the fourth Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) airstrip to be captured by the troops in the recent past, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the troops captured the area lying 10 km west of Mullaitivu town.

January 8th, 2009 COLOMBO - The Tamil Tigers suffered another blow when Sri Lankan troops captured the Elephant Pass garrison Friday, securing full control of a vital highway after a decade, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced to wild celebrations across the island nation. The latest victory came exactly a week after the military wrested control of Kilinochchi, the political hub of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

January 8th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops fighting their way into the remaining LTTE strongholds in the north along a highway are poised to retake the next major landmark - Elephant Pass garrison in the north, an official said here Friday. Encouraged by their latest success of capturing the politico-administrative town of the LTTE after months of fierce fighting, the ground troops backed by armour, artillery and aerial bombardment are advancing from various directions towards Elephant Pass despite fierce LTTE resistance.

January 8th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday announced that the troops fighting their way into the remaining Tamil Tigers' strongholds in the north have captured Elephant Pass garrison, taking full control of entire stretch of the A-9 Jaffna-Kandy main highway after almost a decade. 'Our troops by noon today (Friday) fully captured the Elephant Pass.

January 8th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops Friday captured Elephant Pass, a major stronghold of Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced. Elephant Pass, lying about 12 km away from Kilinochchi on the Jaffna-Kandy main highway, is the isthmus that connects the northern Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the country.

January 7th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops Thursday smashed key forward defences of the Tamil Tigers in the island's north and captured yet another rebel stronghold of Palai, military officials here said. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the army's 53 and 55 Divisions advancing from Jaffna peninsula since Wednesday 'overran all key area command centres' of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Muhamalai area.

January 4th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops fighting their way northwards from the recently captured former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi Monday entered the southern end of Elephant Pass despite resistance from the rebels, an official said here. Geared up after their latest success of capturing the politico-administrative town of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after a decade, the troops backed by armour, artillery and aerial bombardment were poised to retake the next major landmark of Elephant Pass.

January 3rd, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops fighting their way towards the last major bastion of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the northeastern Mullaitivu district Sunday entered a strategic township ahead of Mullaitivu town after fierce clashes, defence authorities here said. Bolstered with confidence after retaking their main politico-administrative town of Kilinochchi two days ago, the troops backed by armour, artillery and aerial bombardment forced their way into Oddusuddan township.

January 3rd, 2009 COLOMBO - Hot on the heels of dealing a body blow to the Tamil Tigers by capturing their politico-military power centre of Kilinochchi, the Sri Lankan troops Sunday were engaged in fierce battles with the rebels to capture the next major landmark, the Elephant Pass in the north, military sources here said. Kilinochchi town is located 350 km north of here.

December 31st, 2008 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops early Thursday captured the strategically important Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) garrison town of Paranthan, which is close to the rebel group's political hub of Kilinochchi, the defence ministry said in a statement issued here. 'Paranthan, the LTTE garrison town, was captured by Task Force-1 troops early this morning (Thursday) following hours of bitter fighting with the rebels,' the statement said.

December 31st, 2008 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan troops advancing from various directions towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) political hub of Kilinochchi early Thursday captured the strategically important town of Paranthan after weeks of fierce fighting with the rebels, the defence ministry said in a statement issued here. 'Paranthan, the LTTE garrison town, was captured by Task Force-1 troops early this morning (Thursday) following hours of bitter fighting with the rebels,' the statement said.