All hostages rescued - Army

Troops have rescued all remaining civilians held hostage by LTTE terrorists; reveal military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. He said that troops have rescued over 50,000 civilians during last 72 hours.

According to the battlefield sources, Army 53, 58 and 59 Division soldiers have entered into the area where LTTE leaders have been cowering among the civilians during last couple of weeks. Soldiers are now looking for sick and disabled people that may be left in the area as almost all the others held at hostage by the terrorists have been rescued.

Meanwhile, LTTE made an abortive attempt to breach the Army defence line on the Western bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon during the wee hours today (May 17). The LTTE cadres launched a surface attack across the Nanthikadal lagoon using several boats between 1.30 AM to 3.30 AM. According to the latest information, troops have been able to crush the LTTE attack causing heavy damages to the terrorists.

Troops have so far collected over 70 bodies of LTTE cadres.