The Battle Progress
Chronology of Humanitarian Advances into
non-liberated areas
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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. 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...
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...
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...
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.
Northern Battlefront
The Army deployed two offensive divisions at the
Northern battle theater, which earlier maintained the strategic forward
defence line(FDL) between security forces and LTTE from Kilaly lagoon
towards Nagarkovil, further East. The defence line extended from
West of the Jaffna lagoon at Kilaly, stretching across Muhamalai towards
Nagarkovil. Army's 53 and 55 Divisions changed mode from strategic
defence, towards offensive pushing LTTE further south liberating the
entire Jaffna peninsula, from LTTE.
Click
here to view the timeline of the 53 and 55 Divisions>>
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 and 'Sinna-Paranthan' areas.
Click
here to view the timeline of the Task Force 1 battles>>
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.
Click
here to view the timeline of the 57 division battles>>
Click here
to view the timeline of the Task Force 3 battles>>
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.
Click here
to view the timeline of the 59 division battles>>
Click here
to view the timeline of the Task Force 4 battles>>
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.
Click here
to view the timeline of the Task Force 2 battles>>
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