Army capture the Pooneryn area from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

On 15 November 2008 the Sri Lankan army announced that it has captured the Pooneryn area from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. With the seizure of Pooneryn, the military completed the capture of the western coast of Sri Lanka and, for the first time since 1993, has gained access to a land route that brings supplies to the northern Jaffna Peninsula. The military takeover will significantly reduce the high cost of living for residents who used to get essential supplies by sea or air. The military reported that it had encountered stiff resistance overnight as troops fought through marshlands of Pooneryn.