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The Sri Lanka armed forces has now entered the Kilinochchi district exactly two years after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a massive attack on the military in Mutur and Kattaparichchan in the Trincomalee district. With this entry the Sri Lanka armed forces is heavily pressurizing the LTTE in the district, where the headquarters of the LTTE is located.

On August 1, 2006, the military successfully repulsed a major LTTE attack on the Mutur and Kattaparichchan military bases. Since then the troops have been able to capture the entire eastern province, Sellawathurai, the Mannar Rice Bowl, Madhu Church and finally the complete Mannar district.

Last week after facing heavy resistance from the Tigers the, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) completed the capture of the Mannar district and has now entered the Kilinochchi district.

Despite their maximum efforts to prevent the military entering their controlled areas, the LTTE was unable to hold their terrain due to the superior fire power of army.. Later on August 2, the 58th Division of the SLA captured Vellankulam town, the northernmost town and the last LTTE stronghold in the Mannar District. With the capture of Vellankulam, the whole of the Mannar District came under the control of the Security Forces after decades under the LTTE.

When the troops advanced up to the 29th milepost on the Mannar-Pooneryn Road it was revealed that over 2500 LTTE cadres had been killed by the 58th Division since it started the operation in September last year of establishing full control of the entire Mannar district.

Since the Government security force's withdrawal from the Strategic Elephant Pass base on April 22, 2000, the 12th Gajaba Regiment led by Major Saliya Amunugama entered the Kilinochchi district.

Meanwhile, the 583 Brigade had cut off the Vellankulam-Mallavi-Thunukkai road connecting Mankulam and A-32 road (to Pooneryn). Commando regiments too carried out several attacks against the rebels, north of Vellankulam on the A-32 road.

By August 2, the 582 Division, comprising of 11 CLI, 9 Gemunu Watch, 8 Gemunu Watch, 12 Gemunu Watch and 9 Gajaba Regiment entered the Vellankulam town.

According to intercepted LTTE transmission, more than 40 LTTE cadres were killed and a large number of cadres injured during the battle. About ten boats that were at the beach to facilitate the escape of LTTE cadres were also found by the military.

At sea, the Sri Lanka Navy's Rapid Action Boats Squadron (RABS) and Special Boats Squadron (SBS) targeted fleeing Tigers from Velankulam area.

The Navy succeeded in destroying one LTTE boat with four Tigers on board. Later the naval troops monitored two more boats proceeding to Iranathivu Island off the North-Western coast.

Later, two special boat squadrons entered the Island for the first time after several years and engaged the rebels and their craft. Subsequently, naval troops landing on the Iranathivu island, destroyed an LTTE make-shift camp and captured two LTTE boats along with two Out Board Motor engines (OMBs) left behind by the fleeing LTTE cadres. Simultaneously, naval crafts engaged a cluster of LTTE boats hovering close to the Nachchikudah beach and inflicted heavy damage to them.Later again the Navy s elite SBS personnel made a swift landing on the Iranathivu island and secured the area by carrying out a special search operation. A stretcher, a haul of medical items, two cans full of fuel, and a tent were recovered by the naval personnel. A cleared building at the location bore signs of having been recently used by the LTTE cadres. Two dinghies were found abandoned near the building and they are reported to have been used by the LTTE cadres to extort money from the local fishermen as ''taxes'' on their catch of fish.

After capturing the Vellankulam town, the 582 brigade continued to move northwards on the A-32 road. Troops of the 9-GW and 12-GW moved using the sea belt between the A-32 and the sea and were to join with the 583 brigade.

The main target of the General Officer Commanding of the 57th Division Major General Jagath Dias, is to capture Mallavi and Tunukkai, the second most important administrative centres of the LTTE.

The Fourth Sinha Regiment and 10 CLI under Lt. Colonel V Ravipriya entered Kilinochchi district early this week.

In Palli Aru area, south of Tunukkai, the military succeeded in capturing the main camp, where senior LTTE leaders such as 'Colonel Bhanu' Jeyam and Luxman were occupying.

Due to intense pressure from the military in the Mannar front, the LTTE leadership last week had re-called Mannar Military Leader Bhanu to Kilinochchi and appointed Northern Military Commander Colonel Theepan, who was in charge of the LTTE s Artillery Unit. Since taking over the commandership in the Mannar sector, he had intensified artillery attacks against the military.

On Wednesday evening, troops of 57th Division captured the remaining supply road connecting Nachchikuda, the last remaining Sea Tiger base in the North Western Coast and Tunukkai. Heavy fighting was erupted in the area for several hours between both parties alongside the road, which borders three districts - Mannar-Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu-. In the meantime, reporting the worst battle in the recent period, on Wednesday around 10 am, suddenly several waves of LTTE attacks came on Kalvilan in Tunukkai west, where 571 and 572 brigades were operating. The battle lasted until 7 pm on Wednesday. Despite these heavy attacks by the LTTE the military was able to hold the area.

The Sri Lankan Air Force MI-24 Helicopter gun ships too carried out close air support missions targeting the LTTE causing heavy damages to the rebels.

Later, the LTTE transmission revealed that more than 30 Tigers had been killed and over 50 others injured due to this fierce battle.

Most of the sections of Vellankuam Mankulam are under the military and with the fall of Mallavi and Tunukkai the entire area between the A-32 road to A-9 road would come under military control. The military would then be able to push forward to capture Mankulam, one of main area on the A-9 road. From Mankulam there are four main roads, to the east to Mullaitivu town, north to Kilinochchi on the A-9 road, south to Omanthai on the A-9 and east to Mallavi. Task Force II based in the south west of Mankulam has now commenced to move to Mankulam. A fierce fighting erupted on August 1 around the Vavunikulam area, where 7 Sinha under the command of Lt Colonel Kithsir Liyange, 3 Gajaba under the command of Major Sanjaya Fernando and 9 Wijayaba were operating.

Despite heavy resistance, the military succeeded in taking control of the defence line though by this operation it lost ten soldiers and more than 20 soldiers were injured.

The fall of this town will effectively bring the de facto capital of the LTTE, Kilinochchi, within SLA's artillery range. The LTTE has deployed fighters from their Imran Pandiyan and Charles Anthony regiments to Mallavi and Tunukkai to face the regular infantry units of the 57th Division.



In the east flank of the A-9 road, soldiers of the 59th Division in Welioya are now moving towards Mullaitivu. Troops are located some two kilomtres south of Thumulamunai junction. If the military succeed in capturing Thumulamunai, they can place heavy pressure on Mullaitivu.

Following these major military successes the LTTE came out with various excuses to halt the military advances. On July 15, 2008, LTTE's Military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan, said in a statement that, ''The President's military approach to overcome the LTTE would never succeed as the cadres were as strong as ever. The LTTE would not lose its battle for Eelam.''

Later LTTE political wing leader Balasingham Nadesan issued another statement that, ''We have always used many different tactics and strategies to deal with such (military) offensives. We have repeatedly demonstrated our ability to convert the Sri Lankan Government offensives into our favour... Our forces will undertake any military actions that are needed to evict the occupying Sri Lankan armed forces from our homeland.''

Comparing these comments, it is now clear the LTTE is anxious to go for a Ceasefire. The LTTE announced a Unilateral Ceasefire early in August just prior to the SAARC summit but the Government rejected the offer.

However, the ten-day long Unilateral Ceasefire is now over, but the fighting continues in the northern fronts. Ground commanders confirmed that the success of the military is due to the change of earlier tactics by the operation of small teams which enables speedy movement.

Gotabaya Rajapakse & Prabakaran?

But Gotabaya's mouth piece defence.lk says that opposition party is responsible for whole white van saga. Gotabaya is an innocent saint only preach Dharma in pansala.

Like the Church burning JHU monks he will never come to US.

But LTTE's mouth piece Rasiah Illankan was not awailable for comment either.

DailyMirror Defence Column (8th Aug 2008):

Gotabaya Rajapakse & Prabakaran?