Government troops which last Wednesday captured Vidathaltivu, a major Sea Tiger base in Mannar, advanced further and yesterday captured Illuppakadavai town 12 kilometers north, said Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara at a media conference today. The thrust of the troops further north was successful and they had captured another two km area since yesterday, he said. The 58th army brigade and commando forces in their onward thrust along the Mannar-Pooneryn A 32 route before capturing Vidalthivu Sea Tiger base, Nanayakkara said.
This was achieved two years after the Mavil Aru operations to liberate the East was launched on July 26, 2006, the military spokesman said. The east was completely liberated after the capture of Thoppigala on July 19, 2007 after clearing Samboor, Verurugal, Muttur, Kattaparichchan, Manirasakulam, Vagarai, Kathiraveli and Trincomalee North, he said.

In the northern sector, the troops advanced along Vavuniya and cleared Madhu, Periya Madhu . The troops are launching their operations in Mullaitivu, Udaya Nanayakkara said.

In Welioya, the 59th brigade has advanced is 08 km beyond their Forward Defence Line (FDL), he stated.