Sri Lankan government announces first significant gain into rebel-held territory
{{date|September 4, 2006}}

[[Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan]] government troops are claiming their first significant victory since the peace accord went into effect four years ago, capturing the rebel-held enclave of {{w|Sampur, Trincomalee|Sempur}} in the country's embattled east.

"We captured the main Sampur artillery position of the Tigers, We suspect they dismantled the guns or pulled them back. We are now in Sampur." said Keheliya Rambukwella.  Rambukwella noted that the government's troops received little or no resistance as they took the 10-km swath of land.  

Overnight shelling and mortar attacks from the {{w|LTTE|Tamil Tigers}}, the main rebel group involved in the fighting, killed one government soldier and injured several others.  The objective of the incursion, said Rambukwella, was to neutralize the use of three Tamil Tiger guns aimed on government troops to the south. Tamil Tigers are claiming that they have not fled the area, and are continuing to engage government troops.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Sri Lanka - Government Army strikes at Tamil Tiger enclaves in the north east|date=August 29, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Overnight battle for Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula|date=August 17, 2006}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/15438177.htm&cid=1105547839&ei=75P8RLieO8GaaOm4oakE
|title=Sri Lanka says it captures key territory
|author=Cassie Biggs
|pub=San Jose Mercury News
|date=September 4, 2006
}}
*{{source|url=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-2-1&fd=R&url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/815643D1-9982-4EE1-AEAF-430D3396EC2B.htm&cid=1105547839&ei=75P8RLieO8GaaOm4oakE
|title=Sri Lanka troops 'capture' Tiger town
|author=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]
|pub=Al-Jazzera Online
|date=September 4, 2006
}}
*{{source|url=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-2-2&fd=R&url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php%3FStoryID%3D20060904-110729-9333r&cid=1105547839&ei=75P8RLieO8GaaOm4oakE
|title=Sri Lanka retakes key town from Tamils
|author={{w|United Press International|UPI}}
|pub=United Press international
|date=September 4, 2006
}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
Sri Lankan government troops are claiming their first significant victory since the peace accord went into effect four years ago, capturing the rebel-held enclave of Sempur in the country's embattled east.

"We captured the main Sampur artillery position of the Tigers, We suspect they dismantled the guns or pulled them back. We are now in Sampur." said Keheliya Rambukwella.  Rambukwella noted that the government's troops received little or no resistance as they took the 10-km swath of land.  

Overnight shelling and mortar attacks from the Tamil Tigers, the main rebel group involved in the fighting, killed one government soldier and injured several others.  The objective of the incursion, said Rambukwella, was to neutralize the use of three Tamil Tiger guns aimed on government troops to the south. Tamil Tigers are claiming that they have not fled the area, and are continuing to engage government troops.
Politics and conflicts Sri Lanka Asia Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam