Nov 17, Colombo: Another Tamil Tiger held town in Northern Sri Lanka fell to the hands of advancing troops this afternoon.

Troops of the Task Force-3 flanked west of the A-9 main road at Vannivilankulama have entered the Mankulama area in Mullaitivu, following hours of heavy fighting with LTTE today at around 2 p.m., the military said.

Tiger rebels held strategic Mankulama, located about 45 kilometers north of Vavuniya along the A-9 highway since 1999. A-34 highway connecting Mullaitivu on the East to A-9 runs through Mankulama.

Defence sources said the troops of TF-3 surrounded the area yesterday engaging LTTE positions with indirect fire. Troops have cut-off a stretch of the A-34 Mankulama- Oddusudan main road yesterday, the sources added.