The Sri Lankan armed forces scored two more significant successes when troops belonging to 53 division captured the Kilaly and Muhamaalai areas by Tuesday January 6th evening. 

After offering token resistance the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) withdrew from entrenched positions in both these areas to the south and south – eastern region of the peninsula.  

The LTTE has now retreated to a third defence line set up along the Puthukkaddu junction along the A – 9. 

Soldiers however were attempting to move further forward to the 3rd line with intensive artillery support.

By Kate Pickert  

By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan forces overran the Tamil Tigers' northernmost defense line Tuesday, forcing the beleaguered rebels to retreat from one of their strongest fortifications, the military said.

The capture of Muhamalai on the Jaffna peninsula came as government troops pushed the rebels deeper into their shrinking heartland in the northern jungles in hopes of finally crushing the insurgency. 

Troops seized the insurgents' administrative capital of Kilinochchi last week, and the military said it was poised to capture the strategic base of Elephant Pass.

Irangika Range

The Government will commence construction work on four new railway lines including the Sapugaskanda-Avissawella, Mannar, Kurunegala-Dambulla and Padukka-Ratnapura-Hambantota lines this year.  

A Spokesman for the Transport Ministry told the Daily News that construction work of the dual track from Ja-Ela to Seeduwa, dual track from Peradeniya to Kandy, fourth line from Maradana to Fort and third and fourth lines on the new Kelani bridge and Matara-Kataragama line will be expedited this year.