Canadian paper says Sri Lanka can capture terrorist territory at the year's end

A Canadian paper has expressed optimism that the Sri Lankan Government will be able to achieve its goal of capturing all territory occupied by the LTTE at the year's end. "Vancouver Sun", in a news feature said since 2006, the Government troops have had a steady succession of victories aiming at this target. The news feature by Jonathan Manthorpe said the offensive launched two years ago by the Sri Lankan Government forces against the Tamil tiger terrorists took a new momentum in the past few days with the capture of Veditthaltivu, a key Naval Base of the terrorists. The Canadian newspaper pointed out that the Government troops took this port town in the Northwestern coast after heavy fighting. The port has been a base for the terrorists and is an important entry point for arms and other supplies smuggled in, mostly across the Palk Strait. It said the soldiers swiftly consolidated their hold on Veditthaltivu and pursued the tigers Northwards, attacking them with all force and helicopter gun ships.