SLA takes control of A9 - Rajapaksa
[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 2009, 14:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday announced that the Sri Lanka Army regained the control of A9 Jaffna Kandy highway linking the south and the north after 23 years. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said that 53 Division commanded by Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne and 55 Division commanded by Brigadier Prasanna Silva based in the Mukamaalai area have advanced nearly 22 km south and occupied the Elephant Pass (EPS) and hoisted the Sri Lankan flag. The EPS was held by the LTTE for over eight years.
The A9 was cut off in 1986 and many battles were fought by both Sri Lankan army and the LTTE to gain control over the A9. Mr. Rajapksa said the capture of EPS has paved the way for the Government to open the A9 Highway linking Jaffna to Colombo.
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