Sept 30, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Army today captured an LTTE airstrip in Panikkankulam, about 7 km northwest of Mankulam in the Mullaitivu District, military sources said.

The Army said that the 57th Division troops, north of Vannivilankulam, captured the airstrip about 500 m to the west of the A-9 road as the troops brought the area under their control. The strip was 50 m wide.

“The location of this 500 m long airstrip, believed to have been perhaps used by terrorists for landing of their light aircraft in any emergency, struck a major blow to their escalation of terrorist acts,” the Army said.

It is also believed that the airstrip could have been used as an open parking space or hangar.