Yes, the LTTE had been suffering a lot of causalities even before the fall of Killinocchi. Their fortunes had been on decline. Considering that, pulling out from Killinocchi was the most sensible thing for them to do.

What about the loss of Elephant Pass? How significant was it?

Between Killinocchi and Elephant Pass, there is a place called Paranthan, and that is the most significant place. When the Sri Lankans occupy Paranthan, Killinocchi will be cut off from both the north and the south. And this was exactly what the Sri Lankans did.

So, tactically, it was unsound to place all bets on Killinocchi. The LTTE should have defended Paranthan instead of Killinocchi, from a purely strategic point of view. Perhaps because Killinocchi was touted as the capital, they did it.

Killinocchi also has a big population, and the LTTE's assets are there. At the last moment, they cannot abandon it and go to Paranthan. Paranthan was lost on January 1. After a week, Killinocchi fell.

Do you feel by conquering these three inter-related vital points, the Sri Lankan army has won the war?

The moment Killinocchi and Paranthan fell, the LTTE was finished.

What about Mullaitheevu?

Mullaitheevu is at the easternmost part of Sri Lanka, and is a district headquarters in the middle of a rainforest; a very thick jungle. The population is very low, and much of what there was has trickled out.

In the last two days, nearly 2,000 people have come out from the LTTE's area. The LTTE cannot physically control these people; they require to be fed. Ultimately you will find only the LTTE cadres, and probably their immediate families, left there.

Even if you don't capture Mullaitheevu, you just surround them and the rest of the northern province is open, and you can restore normalcy.

The LTTE is very good at jungle warfare. If LTTE men are inside the jungle and the Sri Lankan army outside, what will be the outcome?

The Sri Lankan army won't remain outside. They want to eliminate the LTTE 100 per cent. So, they will carry on with the operations. The LTTE is somewhat in the same position as they were in when we (the IPKF) left.

Image: A Sri Lankan commando patrols Akkarayankulam town, the LTTE's old stronghold, southwest of Killinocchi. Photograph: Reuters.

Also see: 'There is no sympathy for the LTTE in Tamil Nadu'

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