LTTE withdraws from Veduthalthivu

Sri Lanka Army's 58 and 57 Divisions, spearheaded by a few platoons of Commandos from the 2nd Commando Regiment took complete control of the largest Sea Tiger base in the Western Coast at the coastal village of Veduthalthivu in Mannar on Wednesday Morning without any serious confrontations inside the village.

Troops managed to recovered LTTE arms, ammunition and vehicles in the operation. A large bunker-line erected from the coast inland had also been abandoned. Search operations continued into Wednesday night to secure the village and the environs of trappings and mines.

The majority of the Tigers defending a well fortified south Veduthalthivu started withdrawing in batches early this week as the ground became untenable. Many had escaped via boats along the shallow coastal waters as parts of the A-32 road was already taken further north of the Sea Tiger base by troops from the 57 Division. Commandos managed to box in and kill around two dozen of the retreating Tigers in a ambush along the A-32.

Navy Dvora FACs can not operate safely in shallow waters and instead, Inshore Patrol Vessels with less fire-power are deployed. Since the Tigers escaped northwards only Mi-24 helicopter gunships were capable of pursuing the boats. These attacks, SLAF claims, neutralized two escaping boats.