Elephant Pass falls after fierce battle; President says attacks on media a conspiracy

By Sandun A. Jayasekara

The military regained the entire A9 road linking the North and the South after 23 years with the capturing of Elephant Pass last evening. The announcement made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a televised address to the nation after the latest major military victory was greeted by firecrackers around the country.

President Rajapaksa praised the security forces for their victory and at the same time warned the people that there was a conspiracy by certain elements to undermine the latest achievements by the government on the battlefield by attacking the media.   The Defence ministry said in the face of concentrated artillery, infantry and mechanized infantry assaults led by close support from the Air Force the LTTE withdrew from Elephant Pass towards Mulliyan, further East with soaring casualties and losses,.

It said subsequently the 53 and 55 offensive Divisions from the North linked up with the 58 Division, flushing the last LTTE resistance at Elephant Pass also known as EPS following heavy fighting till last afternoon.

The fall of EPS has deprived the LTTE, the most crucial strategic ground, at the 'Jaffna gateway', following an eight year occupation, which linked the Wanni mainland and the Jaffna peninsula. With the fall of EPS, troops are now poised at launching a decisive blow at the remaining LTTE strong points at Mulliyan, Chempiyanpattuwa, Chundikulama and Kaddaikadu, the Defence Ministry said.

The Ministry said fierce fighting took place as the LTTE made desperate attempts to stall the military push following the fall of Kilinochchi. The conquest of Elephant Pass (EPS) LTTE complex, signified a major victory of the security forces, who are pushing the LTTE towards its extinction, the Defence Ministry said. EPS was considered the 'jargon of the current conflict' and was the most talked about since the army withdrew from the base complex situated in the area on  April 22, 2000.

Elephant Pass and Kurinchattiv are the largest salterns in the island with a combined area of 100 acres, which produced more than 85,000 metric tons of salt a year, before the area was engulfed in the bitter fighting for decades, defence observers said, speaking to defence.lk. The shallow waters through which elephants once used to carry goods into the Jaffna peninsula from South has given it the name EPS, the sources said citing historical data.

Meanwhile, opening the UPFA news briefing was represented by all constituent parties, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the fall of Elephant Pass was a turning point in the war against terrorism.

“It will pave the way to unite all communities in Sri Lanka and facilitate the access to Mullaitivu for the security forces,” he said.Leader of the House and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the capture of Elephant Pass by the security forces would expedite the final victory at Mullaitivu.

“It will link Jaffna with the rest of the country after 23 years and facilitate the access to Mullaitivu from several fronts. The capture of Elephant Pass will block the LTTE’s access to outer periphery and restrict it to the Mullaitivu jungle,” he said.

SLFP General Secretary and Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the LTTE had consolidated its grip on Jaffna through Elephant Pass. The capture of the strategic location would help to free thousands of innocent Tamils to save from the LTTE jackboot, he emphasized.

Minister Sirisena said there were certain elements trying to deprive the government of the credit it deserved from the military victories.

Minister Keheliya Rambuhwella said the security forces were now on the verge of its final onslaught on the LTTE since the launching of humanitarian operation in July 2006.

The government was forced by the LTTE by putting 35,000 farmers on the verge of dehydration and hunger by closing down the Mavil-Aru culvert, he said.

Environment Minister Cahampika Ranawaka said the government was now in a position to divert all military resources in Jaffna for the final attack on Mullaitivu.

He warned the government and its allies to be vigilant about anti-government elements who attempted to divert the attention of the public from military victories by harassing the media.

National Freedom Front leader Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa claimed there was a concerted effort by certain elements to divert the euphoria on military victories among the public to other directions by harassing the media.

‘The security forces’ next and final goal is Mullaitivu after victories in Paranthan, Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass. When the security forces plan their war strategies our enemies in the south are also busy drawing their plans to weaken the forward march of the heroic security forces,’ Mr. Weerawansa said.

TMVP leader Parliamentarian Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan said the Tamils in Jaffna who lived in an open prison under the LTTE had ultimately been freed by the security forces with the capture of Elephant Pass.

He said the day won’t be far when the armed forces freed the entire Tamil community from the clutches of the LTTE. With the linking of North with the South there will be a speedy development in the North-East as people in these areas will ,have chance to send their produces to the south.

Ministers Prof Tissa Vitarana, A.L.M. Athaullah also addressed journalists.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, deputy Speaker Geetanjana Gunawardna and media spokesmen of the three armed forces and the Police were also present at the media briefing.

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