Brigadier Shavendra Silva
Commander 58 Division


This can be highlighted as the highest achievement by the military in its effort to liberate the Wanni and the North from the clutches of the LTTE as this is first time in military history of the country in which troops were able to reach Pooneryn after commencing operations from the South.

Also this can be the highest achievement by the military as the LTTE has lost one of its most important strongholds. Now they are left with only Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

We were able to clear the entire Western coast from the clutches of the LTTE enabling the civilians to use the entire Western coast for commercial and military purposes. By denying the western coast to the LTTE we were able to cut off the LTTE’s link with the Indian coast from the Western coast.

It is a relief for the military as this enables us to open a land route to Jaffna for military purposes for the first time in 20 years.
Not only for military, the civilians population will also be able breath a sigh of relief now as no artillery rounds will fall into Jaffna hereafter with the capture of Pooneryn since this was used by the LTTE as a launching pad to harass the civilians in the Jaffna peninsula. So this will be a message of peace for the civilians living in Jaffna.

This is a proud moment for the troops of the 58 Division as they achieved this task sacrificing their lives and limbs for the sake of liberating this fertile land in the North Western coast from the clutches of the LTTE.



Army Commander
Lt. General Sarath Fonseka



Capturing Pooneryn is one of the important milestones in our efforts to liberate the entire North from the clutches of the LTTE. It marks the opening of a land route to Jaffna through A-32 road after 20 years. A lot terrorists perished in this battle. We are poised to achieve victories on the other fronts as well.