Tha Story So Far..( 7th December 2008)

Introduction

Sri Lankan armed forces police, police Special Task Force (STF) and Civil Defenc Force (CDF) are engaged in counter terrorist operations against the world's most barbaric terrorist organization named Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or commonly known as Tamil Tigers. Since 1983, the terrorist campaign unleashed against Sri Lankan citizens has cost almost 70,000 lives. The mission of the Sri Lankan security forces is to free the Island nation from clutches of terrorism and to make it a country where all Sri Lankans can live in peace and harmony. During last 3 decades LTTE has shown its incapacity to engage in any meaningful dialogue more than once by resorting to violence during several ceasefires had in the past.

Current counter terror operations commenced in July 2006 as an active defence against continued attacks at civilians by LTTE. This was when the ceasefire agreement singed in 2002 was still in force. The government launched limited military operations to liberate Mavil Aru sluice gates as the terrorists had closed down the gates denying water for 30,000 civilians in the Eastern Province. As LTTE resumed hostilities even after the Mavil Aru operations, the government continued its counter terror move and liberated the whole Eastern Province by February 2007. As LTTE did not show any intention to renounce terrorism, the government abrogated the 2002 ceasefires in January 2008, and now is in the process of liberating the Northern Province from terror clutches.

The area domination

The LTTE had its domination mainly in the Kilinochchi, and Mullaittivu and some parts of the Mannar, and Vavuniya districts in the Northern Province before the present operations began. Troops on completion of the operation in the Silavatura and Mannar front totally liberated the Mannar district. At present, LTTE has the domination in some parts of Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi districts and the Northern portion of the Vavuniya district. The area belonging to Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts are commonly called the Wanni region.

It should be noted that the term "area domination" refers only to military domination as the government is maintaining all the public services in the Wanni. It is only the civilians living in those areas have to obey the terror leadership while the government runs all the administrative and welfare activities. Free health service, free education system, public transport, state banks have been maintained by the government without any interruption on the part of the government, during last 3 decades of war on terror. Even LTTE cadres live on the food, medicine and other essential supplies provided by the government for the civilians in Wanni.

The Forces

The forces engaged in the counter terror operations include Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Police, Police Special Task Force (STF) and Civil Defence Force.

Sri Lanka Army plays the key role in liberation operation by conducting offensive and defensive land operations against the terrorists. At present, troops are engaging the terrorists on several warfronts while maintaining the defences in newly liberated areas and other defensive fronts.

Sri Lanka Navy plays a vital role in denying the terrorist use of sea lines of communications through offensive blockades, marine surveillance, and maintaining defences in several strategic locations along the coast including all harbours. Also, Navy maintains the main supply route between Jaffna Peninsula and South as no road access possible across Wanni. The Navy via sea route is handling a large portion of troops transfer, and cargo transportation between Jaffna and South.

Sri Lanka Air Force makes an invaluable contribution to the success of the battle by carrying out of air raids at terror targets located deep behind enemy lines and close air support missions in support of forward deployed troops. In addition, Air Force assists Special Forces operating behind enemy lines by way of airmobile/ air assault missions. Other than the offensive role, Air Force provides vital assistance to the forward deployed forces through casualty evacuation, air surveillance/reconnaissance, and troops transfer and logistic support.

Police Special Task Force (STF) is the only paramilitary force in Sri Lanka specially trained in counter insurgency warfare. At present, STF personnel are deployed in the defensive fronts in the Vavuniya districts to maintain the active defence. Police and Civil Defence Force personnel also, deployed on the forward defences where no offensives are being carried out at present.

The Strategy

The Strategy in achieving the mission is to defeat terrorists through attrition warfare. In other words, it is to reduce the effectiveness of a force by causing losses to personnel and material. The strategy is a radical departure from earlier strategy of expanding land domination or engaged in "land grabbing" operations.

The Battlefield

There are two theatres of operations identified as Jaffna and Wanni, at present. Security forces' Forward Defence Line (FDL) in the Jaffna theatre stretches for about 12 km on the neck of the Jaffna peninsula. The Wanni theatre initially had a winding FDL stretches for about 115 km, on the mainland between the Mannar coast on the northwestern shores of the Island and the Kokkuttoduvai coast on the northeastern shores. However, the FDL often alters in its shape and distance with the progress of the operations in dynamic Wanni theatre.

In the Jaffna theatre, troops maintain active defence at 3 main frontiers namely, Muhamalai, Kilaly and Nagarkovil. The forward deployed forces in this theatre acted as the main defensive barricade against any terrorist attack coming from Wanni until recently, as the Jaffna Peninsula was cut off from the mainland due to LTTE's domination in the Wanni. However , the Jaffna Peninsula is no longer isolated from the mainland as troops opened a land route to Jaffna with the liberation of Pooneryn and Sangupiddi causeway. The 3 divisions manning the Kilaly, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil forward boundaries are now shifting their mode of operations from active defence to all-out offence.

At present, the main counter terror offensive is being carried out in the Wanni theatre. The Army initially deployed 2 divisions and a Task Force to lead the offensives along the Wanni Defence on 3 battlefronts namely; Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya. Later, the Mannar and Vavuniya battlefronts combined with each other making the largest ever battlefront fought against the LTTE. This battlefront jointly entered into the Kilinochchi district and proceeded up to Pooneryn liberating the complete stretch of Northwestern coast of the Island.

With the progress of the battle, the Army has increased its strength up to 4 divisions and 3 task forces while the battlefronts too have changed as follows:

Kilinochchi West

This was the warfront opened by Army Task Force 1 after fully liberating the Mannar district. The front became active with troops entering the Kilinochchi district from the southwestern district boarders following the liberation of Vellankulama. Troops recently completed their northwards march along the Northwestern coastal belt of the island and opened up the Mannar- Pooneryn road (A-32) running along coastal belt. The battlefront was considered to be of the highest strategic importance as the LTTE's main sea supply route lies across the Palk Strait.

At present, troops have turned their axis from South to North to West to East lining up themselves in the Western borders of the Kilinochchi outskirts.

During their march troops have gained control over 82 km long A-32 road, and liberated the

Adampan, Andankulama, Parappakadattan, Vidattaltivu, Iluppaikkaddavai, Vellankulama, Molonkavil, Nachchikudha, Vannerikulama, Manniyankulama , Pallawarayankaddu , Chunnavil, Nochchimoddai, Chempankundu, Vallaipadu, Devils point, Pooneryn and Nivil areas.

• 9 May, 2008 Troops liberated Adampan town.

• 24 June,2008 Troops liberated Mullikkandal, Minnaniranchan and Marattikannaddi situated north of Adampan town.

• 29 June, 2008 Troops wrested total control over Mannar "Rice Bowl", an area extends over 120 Square Kilometers. The Villages comes under this area are Alankulama, Andankulama, Alakaddiveli, Parappakandal, Parappukadatan, Papamoddai, Odupallam, Neduvarampu, Kannaputtukulama and Vannakulama. Loosing control over the "Rice Bowl" has also denied the LTTE of using 12 km stretch of the Mannar- Pooneryn (A-32) main road and Uyilankulama - Adampan and Uyilankulama - Andankulama main roads.

• 30 June, 2008 The Army Task Force 1 linked up with the Army 57 division operating on the Vavuniya front creating the largest ever battlefront against LTTE in the West flank of Wanni. The combination of the two fronts took place at the southwest of Periyamadhu.

• 16 July, 2008 Troops liberated Vidattaltivu town and captures the strategically located Sea Tiger base on the Western Coast

• 20 July, 2008 Troops liberated Illuppaikkadavai township and captured the largest LTTE base in the Mannar district.

• 2 August, 2008 Troops liberated Vellankulam town.

• 2 August, 2008 Navy elites cleared off the Iranativu Islet.

• 12 August, 2008 Troops of TF1 gained total control over Mulankavil and Pallavarayankaddu areas.

• 21 August, 2008 Troops reach outer LTTE defences of Nachchikudha

• 16 October, 2008 Troops capture Maniyankulama area from LTTE

• 20 October, 2008 Troops commence mop up operations in Vannerikkulama

• 28 October, 2008 Troops dominate Nochchimodai area

• 29 October, 2008 Troops capture Jeyapuram

• 29 October, 2008 Nachchikuda falls to troops

• 10 November, 2008 LTTE bastion Kiranchi falls; LTTE suffers heavy casualties - Kilinochchi

• 11 November, 2008 Troops dominate another LTTE built-up - Kilinochchi

• 13 November, 2008 Twin blows to LTTE; Army enters Devil's Point and Vallaipadu

• 15 November, 2008 Pooneryn Terrorist Bastion falls : Army Task Force 1 -Task accomplished

Kilinochchi South

Troops of 57 division having liberated the Western region of the Vavuniya district and the Madhu area in the Mannar district, are now at the door step of the terrorist's administrative capital Kilinochchi. The battle frontage has been extremely active since its opening as the thrust has been directly at the Wanni heartland. At present, troops have reached the outskirts of Kilinochchi built up from the South and West and continue to push their forward boundaries to the Kilinochchi and Poonaryn-Paranthan road.

57 division troops commenced their operation opening up the Vavuniya front from Madhu road, Giant Tank East, Pandisurichchan and Thampanai areas and achieved the largest area domination by liberating Madhu, Palampiddi, Mundumurippu and Periyamadhu areas. Later, they combined with the Task Force 1 that was marching ahead on the Mannar front making the Mannar-Vavuniya front- the largest battlefront ever maintained against terrorists.

Then, they entered into the Mullaittivu district crossing the southwestern district boarder and so far liberated the Naddankandal, Chiraddikulam Kalvilan , Tunukkai, Mallavi, Vannivilankulam, Murukkandi, and Akkarayankulam areas.

The latest induction to the front is Task Force 3 , which is directing its thrust towards the East of the Jaffna-Kandy (A-9) road. With in days after its induction, TF 3 troops cut off the A-9 road at Pannikkankulam denying the terrorist use of the road from Omananthai to Kilinochchi. The latest achievement of the Task Force 3 is the liberation of the Mankulam.

• 24 April, 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Madhu Church complex

• 16 May, 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Palampiddi town

• 23 May, 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Mundumurippu village

• 15 June, 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Periyamadhu village

• 11 July , 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Naddankandal village

• 13 August , 2008 Troops of 57 Div liberated Kalvilan

• 22 August, 2008 Army liberates Thunukkai and Uilankulam Towns

• 02 September, 2008 Army liberates Mallavi Town

• 29 October, 2008 Troops dominate Akkarayankulam tank bund

• 05 November, 2008 Troops overrun Akkarayankulam built-up in Kilinochchi

• 01 December, 2008 Kokavil liberated; another LTTE bastion on A-9 falls Kilinochchi

Mullaittivu

Troops of 59 division is the first ever Army battle formation to venture in to the Mullaittivu jungles forming a battlefront north of Welioya. Initially, troops started to move into the Mullaittivu forest from the north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Kokkutoduvai areas and so far pushed their forward defence line for about 10 km north from the initial position.

At present, troops are maneuvering along the west of the Nayaru lagoon heading towards the Mullaittivu town situated on the Eastern border of the district. The present defence lies 15 km south of the Mullaittivu main terror bastion. During their march, troops have dislodged hundreds of enemy bunkers and captured prominent terror camps such as Munagam Base, Michael Base, Sugandan Base and most recently Jeevan Base.

• 30 May 2008 Troops captured the Munagam Base, the main logistic link between LTTE strongholds in Wanni and LTTE cadres in the east, across the Mullaittivu jungle. This camp is considered to be one of the most strategically important satellite base of LTTE's One-Four Base compound.

• 4 July, 2008 Troops captured the Michael Base another large satellite base of One-Four base compound located inside the Mulaithiuvu jungle.

• 27 July, 2008 Troops capture 'Sugandan' base a satellite base of the LTTE's 'One-Four-base' compound.

• 16 Aug, 2008 LTTE's 'Jeevan Base' falls to Security Forces- Welioya.

• 21 Aug, 2008 Troops advance along West of Nayaroo lagoon- Welioya.

• 23 October, 2008 Security Forces dominate Gajabapura - Welioya.

• 11 November, 2008 Troops dominate part of Kumulamunai village - Mullaittivu

• 29 November, 2008 Troops of the 59 Div enters Otiyamalai - Mullaittivu

• 04 December, 2008 59 Div troops enter Alampil sea tiger bastion

Vavuniya Front

Vavuniya front represent northern section of the Vavuniya district that lies between Omanthai and Mankaulam, and also on the either side of the A-9 road. Troops of Task Force 2, 56 division and 61 division are operating on the Vavuniya front at present.

61 division troops are mainly engaged in clearing operations in the recently liberated areas of both Mannar and Vavuniya districts. 56 division troops maintain the active defence on defence line that stretches from east to west across A-9 road at Omanthai.

Troops of Task Force 2 carry out the counter terror offensives along the northwestern border of the Vavuniya district on the west of the A-9 road. They have so far liberated the Navvi village and are now in the process of liberating the Palamoddai area.

• July 11, 2008 Troops of TF 2 liberated Navvi village

• December 04, 2008 Troops capture Puliyankulam

• December 05, Wanni hell gates further crumble; troops reach Kanakarayankulam