Colombo: The strength of the Sri Lankan army is being beefed up as the battle for the Tamil Tiger stronghold of Wanni in the restive north enters a "decisive stage", Defence Ministry officials said today.

"The army is being further strengthened with addition of more men as the cohesive campaign of the security forces on the Wanni front enters a decisive stage with ground troops making significant progress," an official said.

Army Chief Lt General Sarath Fonseka on Saturday visited the area for a first-hand assessment as troops on north-west Mannar front increased pressure on Adampan, an LTTE stronghold close to Yoda Wewa in northern Sri Lanka.

"As the army advanced on LTTE positions, the LTTE, in a desperate bid to trigger a clash near Madhu church Saturday fired 81 mm mortars at troops deployed" nearby, the Defence Ministry said. The army said troops had not targeted LTTE firing positions near the historic shrine.

"Had we responded to the enemy threat, the LTTE and the media sympathetic to them would have caused a major uproar," the army said. According to Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara, the army had recruited about 3,000 men since the beginning of this year.

"The number of recruits in the army last year was 34,000 with its total strength touching 150,000," he said. He placed the combined strength of the three services at over 2,00,000. 

Source : PTI