Sri Lankan Army takes Verugal

The SL forces have now almost cleared the A-15 highway linking Batticaloa with Trinco, reports PK Balachandran.

A day after capturing the strategically important town of Vaharai, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces on Saturday took Kadirveli and Verugal, further North along the coastal road in the Eastern district of Batticaloa.

The National Security Media Unit said that 11 LTTE cadres had surrendered and one artillery gun was captured.

With the capture of Verugal, the Security Forces have almost completely cleared the A-15 highway linking Batticaloa with Trincomalee.

Mutur and Sampur, further north, had been captured earlier.

Verugal came into the limelight in April 2004 as it was here that the units loyal to the LTTE Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, defeated the forces of his rebellious lieutenant, Karuna, through a brilliantly executed amphibian operation.

But today, Karuna has turned the tables on Prabhakaran. The Sri Lankan Armed Forces, with which he is now aligned, have driven Prabhakaran's men out of Verugal.

And if what is happening in many of the government-controlled areas in Batticaloa district is any indication, Karuna's men could move into Vaharai, Kathirveli and Verugal in strength.

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