COLOMBO, Jan 9: Sri Lankan troops battling rebels captured the Elephant Pass, a strategically important region in the country’s north, President Mahinda Rajapakse announced on Friday.

“I address you today at a time when our heroic forces have achieved another great and historic victory. This evening our troops have completely freed the Elephant Pass from the LTTE,” he said in an address to the nation.

The president cautioned his nation against “conspiracies targeting the unification of the country, its independence and sovereignty”. This was the second such address in a week by Mr Rajapakse. He had announced on Jan 2 the fall of the LTTE’s ‘capital’ of Kilinochchi.