Friday, February 6, 2009

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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.24 April 2008Madhu church complex
02.16 May 2008Palampiddi Town
03.23 May 2008Mundumurippu village
04.15 June 2008Periyamadhu village
05.11 July 2008Naddankandal village
06.13 Aug 2008Kalvilan Village
07.22 Aug 2008Thunukkai and Uilankulam Towns
08.02 Sept 2008Mallavi Town
09.29 Oct 2008Akkarayankulam tank bund
10.05 Nov 2008Akkarayankulam built-up
11.01 Dec 2008Kokavil town
12.10 Dec 2008Terumurikandy junction
13.02 Jan 2009Kilinochchi town
14.17 Jan 2009Ramanathapuram
15.28 Jan 2009Visuamadu 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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.09 May 2008Adampan 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 2008Linked up with 57 Div -southwest of Periyamadhu
05.16 July 2008Vidattaltivu town
06.02 Aug 2008Illuppaikkadavai township
07.12 Aug 2008Vellankulam town
08.12 Aug 2008Mulankavil and Pallavarayankaddu areas
09.21 Aug 2008Nachchikudha
10.16 Oct 2008Maniyankulama
11.20 Oct 2008Vannerikkulama
12.28 Oct 2008Nochchimodai
13.29 Oct 2008Jeyapuram
14. 29 Oct 2008Nachchikuda
15.10 Nov 2008Kiranchi
16.13 Nov 2008Devil's Point and Vallaipadu
17.15 Nov 2008Pooneryn
18.23 Dec 2008'Sinna-Paranthan'
19.26 Dec 2008Nalanawakulam village
20.01 Jan 2009Paranthan
21.08 Jan 2009Murasumoddai
22.15 Jan 2009Dharmapuram
23.28 Jan 2009Visuamadu Town


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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.30 May 2008Munagam Base
02.04 July 2008Michael Base
03.27 July 2008'Sugandan' base
04.16 Aug 2008Jeevan Base
05.21 Aug 2008West of Nayaroo lagoon
06.23 Oct 2008Gajabapura
07.11 Nov 2008Kumulamunai village
08.29 Nov 2008Otiyamalai
09.26 Dec 2008Mulliyawalai
10.25 Jan 2009Mullaittivu 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.

 

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.

 

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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.11 July 2008Navvi village
02.04 Dec 2008Puliyankulam
03.05 Dec 2008Kanakarayankulam
04.21 Jan 2009Udayarkattukulam 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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.17 Nov 2008Mankulama
02. 25 Nov 2008Olumadu
03.15 Dec 2008Ampakamam

 

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 NoDateArea Liberated
01.20 Dec 2008Nadunkerni
02.04 Jan 2009Oddusuddan
03.12 Jan 2009Keridattadu

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