Colombo: The Sri Lankan army has cornered the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northern jungle district of Mullaitivu and suspects rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has fled the country.
"Well, I am not sure whether he is in Sri Lanka. There are ways to escape, but it is not possible for Prabhakaran to have gone to India. He will not be permitted there," said Lankan army commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka in Colombo.
Fonseka said the Sri Lankan air Force had destroyed a vessel carrying arms and ammunitions for the LTTE when it was being offloaded in the rebel-held coastal area, proving that the rebels were still smuggling supplies.
"Why can't Prabhakaran also have tried to escape in this fashion with suicide crafts around him. But we are keeping a close watch," he said on Saturday evening.
A newspaper report said Prabhakaran, who is wanted in India for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, lives in an air-conditioned bunker complex located over 30 feet below the ground and comes out only in the nights to avoid detection.
Fonseka had earlier said that 54-year-old Prabhakaran, who was dealt a stunning blow after the fall of Killinochchi and Elephant Pass, was hiding in Mullaittivu.
Fonseka said his troops were making "rapid progress and have captured 17 km during the past 17 days towards Mullaitivu", where LTTE cadres were maintaining their strong build-ups.
He said the LTTE, which controlled Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts for the past one decade, was "now boxed into a small jungle area in the Mullaitivu district", offering desperate resistance to the advancing troops.
The troops have recovered over 100 dead bodies of the rebels killed during the past couple of weeks. "Soon you will see the final outcome of the war against the LTTE," said Fonseka.
Since early January, the troops have captured major LTTE strongholds including Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Elephant Pass and Muhamalai along the A-9 main highway and have taken full control of the highway after 23 years.
The government is making preparations to open the 325 km-long road for public after reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the defence ministry said on Sunday that the army's 59 Division troops have "entered into the south of Puthukkudiyiruppu jungle areas" in the Mullaitivu district, inflicting heavy damages to the rebels.
"Troops have captured a highly fortified LTTE camp and a boat manufacturing factory from the Maruthampuvel area during yesterday's (Saturday) operations," it said, adding that the troops have found two fast attack boats, two water jets and seven small boats used for suicide missions inside the facility.
"Troops are now consolidating their positions about six km south of Puthukkudiyiruppu," the defence ministry said.
(With IANS and PTI)
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