14km to victory!

4 Sinha Regiment, a front-running regiment spearheading the entry into Kilinochchi was counterattacked last night at Akkarayan by a considerable number of Tigers. 4 SR led by young and able officer Lt. Col. S. Welikala is currently attached to the 573 Brigade and has made the most noteworthy contribution among all other Regiments of that Brigade and the 57 Division in this ongoing war against the LTTE.

Due to previous intelligence warnings, 4 SR CO Welikala made an immediate tactical withdrawal of his troops from a 400m stretch of jungle he had captured the last few days and allowed the Tigers to advance some 400m into newly regained areas and then made a push forward to advance a total of 600m (400m regained + 200m newly captured) towards Kilinochchi. The move completely baffled the Tigers. One LTTE team was completely wiped-out in the SLA attack.

The 573 is now in the general area Akkarayan. Ahead of them is Iranamadu. 9 Kilometers north from the current location is the heart of Kilinochchi Town where the Kilinochchi Bus Stand, Public Market, Hospital, Police Station (LTTE) and Schools are situated.

In the Army's Grid Maps, the current location's coordinates are 55-00 (Army grids are based on latitudes and longitudes with the last two numbers slashed). Grid 59-00 is Iranamadu. Kilinochchi Town Center is in Grid 64-00 and 65-00.

5km north, from the heart of Kilinochchi Town, is the strategic town of Paranthan. This means that SLA has a total of 14km to achieve perhaps the biggest breakthrough in this war so far. In other words, if the Army reaches Paranthan, Pooneryn and Muhamalai will fall automatically and LTTE cadres at Nagarkovil could get boxed in.

The LTTE Police Station situated in the heart of Kilinochchi was raided last morning and Intelligence sources have confirmed direct hits on the building, which was razed to the ground. Casualties to the Tigers is unknown. The other two strikes launched on the same day have not been very accurate, according to the information available at this point in time.