The highway cuts through the Tamil villages of Ilamarutham Kulam and Semamadu, east of Omanthai.
Initially this road was intended to carry military supplies to and from Nedunkerny. However, now there are moves to extend this road along the old Kandy road which runs north through Nayinamadu, Katkidangu and Karippatta Murippu.
The A9 is now known as the Kandy road.
However, the old Kandy road was in use about six decades ago and fell into disuse when the A9 became the main highway to Jaffna said some sources in Vavuniya.
The third phase of Operation Jayasikurui has been delayed until the work on the new highway is completed between Nayinamadu and Karippatta Murippu.
The construction work has been hampered by the continuing monsoon rains.
The Vavuniya sources also said that the third phase might then proceed along the old Kandy road north of Karippatta Murippu towards Mutaliyakulam and then to old Kokkavil.
The old Kokkavil is in the interior east of Murikandi and the Iranaimadu tank. What is known as Kokkavil now is a junction near Murikandi on the A9.
The old Kandy road then branches off to the west towards Kilinochchi and north to Vaddakkachchi on the Paranthan - Puthukudiyiruppu road.
The army's new highway has been planned along this route said the sources.
