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 |
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.
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 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 |
Posts
