The Final Countdown
 Sri Lanka Armed Forces have reached the final stage of
their counter terrorist operation fought against Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for more than two and half decades . The mission of
our armed forces is to free our nation from clutches of terrorism and to
make it a country where all Sri Lankans can live in peace and harmony.
The ongoing phase of the battle commenced in August
2006 when terrorists closed down the Mavil Aru sluice gates denying
water for more than 30,000 civilians. The terrorists initially had their
domination over an area of 15000 square kilometers in the Northern and
the Eastern Provinces. The LTTE terrorism was eradicated from the
Eastern Province by August 2007.
Land operations were commenced in the Northern
Province in March 2007 with the induction of the Army's 57 Division to
the Vavuniya area. The second offensive division Task Force 1 was
inducted to the battlefield from Mannar in September 2007. Army opened
its 3rd battlefront from Welioya with the induction of the 59 Division
in January 2008.
At present, the army has engaged 5 offensive Divisions
and 3 Task Forces at remaining LTTE hiding areas in Wanni. LTTE
terrorists are boxed in to a triangular shape land marked by A-9 road
from the West, A-34 road from South and the Northeastern coast from the
East. The below is a brief description of the operations
carried out by the army offensive divisions engaged in the battlefield
57 Division
The 57th Division (57 Div) commanded by Major General
Jagath Dias commenced its operations in March 2007 in Vavuniya. The
Division was maneuvered directly at the LTTE's heartland Kilinochchi,
cutting across the strategically vital northwestern coast and the A-9
road. Time Line
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area
Liberated |
|
01. |
24 April 2008 |
Madhu
church complex |
|
02. |
16 May 2008 |
Palampiddi
Town |
|
03. |
23 May 2008 |
Mundumurippu village |
|
04. |
15 June 2008 |
Periyamadhu
village |
|
05. |
11 July 2008 |
Naddankandal village |
|
06. |
13 Aug 2008 |
Kalvilan
Village |
|
07. |
22 Aug 2008 |
Thunukkai
and Uilankulam Towns |
|
08. |
02 Sept 2008 |
Mallavi
Town |
|
09. |
29 Oct 2008 |
Akkarayankulam tank bund |
|
10. |
05 Nov 2008 |
Akkarayankulam built-up |
|
11. |
01 Dec 2008 |
Kokavil town |
|
12. |
10 Dec 2008 |
Terumurikandy junction |
|
13. |
02 Jan 2009 |
Kilinochchi town |
|
14. |
17 Jan 2009 |
Ramanathapuram |
|
15. |
28 Jan 2009 |
Visuamadu Town |
58 Division
The Army 58th Division earlier known as the Task Force
1 commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva commenced its operations from
Mannar in September 2007. This was the Division that maneuvered along
the Northwestern coast of the Island and denied the LTTE of their vital
lifeline that existed across the Palk Strait.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area
Liberated |
|
01. |
09 May 2008 |
Adampan town |
|
02. |
24 June 2008 |
Mullikkandal, Minnaniranchan and
Marattikannaddi villages |
|
03. |
29 June 2008 |
The Mannar Rice Bowl"- Alankulama,
Andankulama, Alakaddiveli, Parappakandal, Parappukadatan, Papamoddai,Odupallam,
Neduvarampu, Kannaputtukulama and Vannakulama, villages |
|
04. |
30 June 2008 |
Linked up with 57 Div -southwest of Periyamadhu |
|
05. |
16 July 2008 |
Vidattaltivu town |
|
06. |
02 Aug 2008 |
Illuppaikkadavai township |
|
07. |
12 Aug 2008 |
Vellankulam town |
|
08. |
12 Aug 2008 |
Mulankavil and Pallavarayankaddu
areas |
|
09. |
21 Aug 2008 |
Nachchikudha |
|
10. |
16 Oct 2008 |
Maniyankulama |
|
11. |
20 Oct 2008 |
Vannerikkulama |
|
12. |
28 Oct 2008 |
Nochchimodai |
|
13. |
29 Oct 2008 |
Jeyapuram |
|
14. |
29 Oct 2008 |
Nachchikuda |
|
15. |
10 Nov 2008 |
Kiranchi |
|
16. |
13 Nov 2008 |
Devil's Point and Vallaipadu |
|
17. |
15 Nov 2008 |
Pooneryn |
|
18. |
23 Dec 2008 |
'Sinna-Paranthan' |
|
19. |
26 Dec 2008 |
Nalanawakulam village |
|
20. |
01 Jan 2009 |
Paranthan |
|
21. |
08 Jan 2009 |
Murasumoddai |
|
22. |
15 Jan 2009 |
Dharmapuram |
|
23. |
28 Jan 2009 |
Visuamadu Town |
|
24. |
20 Feb 2009 |
Thevipuram |
|
25. |
17 March 2009 |
Iranapalai Junction |
|
26. |
01 April 2009 |
Pachchapulmuddai |
|
27. |
05 April 2009 |
Puthukkudiyiruppu |
59 Division
The Army 59th Division commanded by Brigadier Nandana
Udawatte commenced its operations from the WeIioya area in January 2008.
Troops of this division slowly but successfully marched across the
Andankulam and Nagancholai forest reserves that stood as natural
defences for the LTTE's main military bastion in Mullaittivu.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area
Liberated |
|
01. |
30 May 2008 |
Munagam Base |
|
02. |
04 July 2008 |
Michael Base |
|
03. |
27 July 2008 |
'Sugandan' base |
|
04. |
16 Aug 2008 |
Jeevan Base |
|
05. |
21 Aug 2008 |
West of Nayaroo lagoon |
|
06. |
23 Oct 2008 |
Gajabapura |
|
07. |
11 Nov 2008 |
Kumulamunai village |
|
08. |
29 Nov 2008 |
Otiyamalai |
|
09. |
26 Dec 2008 |
Mulliyawalai |
|
10. |
25 Jan 2009 |
Mullaittivu Town |
53 Division
The Army 53rd Division commanded by Brigadier Kamal
Gunarathne was initially manning the forward defence line at Muhamalai
in the Jaffna peninsula. The Division was deployed in the area south of
A-9 road and was one of the two Army Divisions that defended the
isolated Jaffna peninsula against LTTE infiltration over the past few
years. The Division shifted its mode of operations from defensive to
offensive in mid November 2008.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area
Liberated |
|
01. |
12 March 2009 |
Puthukkudiyirippu Hospital |
|
02. |
01 April 2009 |
Pachchapulmuddai |
|
03. |
05 April 2009 |
Puthukkudiyiruppu |
55 Divison
The Army 55th Division commanded by Brigadier Prasanna
Silva was initially manning the forward defence line at Muhamalai in the
Jaffna peninsula. The Division was deployed in the area north of A-9
road and was one of the two Army Divisions that defended the isolated
Jaffna peninsula against LTTE infiltration over the past few years. The
Division shifted its mode of operations from defensive to offensive in
mid November 2008.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area Liberated |
| 01. |
05
February 2009 |
Chalai |
Task Force 2
The Army Task Force 2 commanded by Brigadier Rohana
Bandara commenced its operations in June 2008 from the South of Palamoddai area. This was the first Army offensive element to maneuver
along the west-east axis across A-9.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area Liberated |
| 01. |
11
July 2008 |
Navvi village |
| 02. |
04 Dec
2008 |
Puliyankulam |
| 03. |
05 Dec
2008 |
Kanakarayankulam |
| 04. |
21 Jan
2009 |
Udayarkattukulam Tank Bund |
Task Force 3
The Army Task Force 3 commanded by Brigadier
Sathyapirya Liyanage commenced its operations in November 2008 from the
Vannivilankulam area. This was the second Army offensive element to
maneuver along the west-east axis across A-9.
Timeline
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area Liberated |
| 01. |
17 Nov
2008 |
Mankulama |
| 02. |
25
Nov 2008 |
Olumadu |
| 03. |
15 Dec
2008 |
Ampakamam |
Task Force 4
The Army Task Force 4 commanded by Colonel Nishantha
Wanniarachchi commenced its operations in December 2008 from the
Nadunkerni area. This was the second offensive element inducted to the
Mullaittivu battlefront after the Army 59 Div.
|
Serial No |
Date |
Area Liberated |
| 01. |
20 Dec 2008 |
Nadunkerni |
| 02. |
04 Jan 2009 |
Oddusuddan |
| 03. |
12 Jan 2009 |
Keridattadu |
Related News >>
The Battle Progress
(Updated on 16th January)  |
