Lankan Army captures Valayarmadam, six sq km away from Prabhakaran

Colombo, Apr 26 (ANI): Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on Sunday said that the Army has captured strategic Valayarmadam area and encircled remaining six square kilometre strip of land which could be the possible hideout of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

"Sri Lankan soldiers have liberated Valayarmadam area and so far rescued 500 civilians held hostage by the LTTE from there," the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, LTTE's political head B. Nadesan has denied the charges that his group was forcibly recruiting children as fighters to confront the government forces.

The fighting between the LTTE and the Lankan Army has reached its final stages in the past few days and the government has described its strategy as "hostage rescue", although diplomats and aid workers have expressed grave fears for the safety of trapped civilians.

Reports have said that Prabhakaran's son, Charles Anthony, has escaped by submarine and it is possible that the leader may attempt the same. (ANI)