LTTE's most fortified Northern garrison at EPS falls

"Elephant Pass, the gateway to the Jaffna peninsula is now under the total control of security forces", news reports from the battlefront read. "Troops have also gained total control over the 325km long A-9, Jaffna- Kandy trunk road, after 23 years", military sources further said.

The end-game of LTTE's protracted separatist cause seems to be reaching its final stages, as the advancing SL security forces overran the most fortified LTTE Northern garrison at EPS today (Jan 9), which was officially declared by the C-in-C President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a short while  ago.

In the face of concentrated armour, artillery, infantry and mechanized infantry assaults led by close support SLAF raids, LTTE terrorists' pulled off from the garrison township with soaring casualties and loses, towards Mulliyan, further East military sources at the battlefront said. According to battlefield reports, the 53 and 55 offensive Divisions from North have linked up with the 58 Division, flushing the last LTTE resistance at EPS during a heavy multi-frontal onslaught launched since yesterday.

The fall of EPS has deprived LTTE, the most crucial strategic ground, at the 'Jaffna gateway', following an eight year odd occupation, which linked the Wanni mainland with the Jaffna peninsula. With the fall of EPS, troops are now poised at launching a decisive blow at the remaining LTTE strongpoints at Mulliyan, Chempiyanpattuwa, Chundikulama and Kaddaikadu, defence observers state.

Fierce fighting was fought as LTTE terrorists made desperate attempts to stall the military surge following its humiliating defeat at Kilinochchi (02 Jan, 2009). The conquest of Elephant Pass (EPS) LTTE complex, signified a major victory of the security forces, who are pushing LTTE towards its extinction.

EPS was earlier occupied by the Dutch during the colonial rule in the island, who had built a fort in 1760, identifying its strategic value in maintaining vital logistic supply with the Jaffna mainland. This fort was later occupied by the British during its colonial aggression in the island who built a bungalow which was turned a rest house after independence.

In 1958, late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranayake, identifying the fort's strategic value maintained a small military detachment which was later turned to a permanent Army transition base following the 1983 July, unrest in the island. The surge of calamity in Jaffna forced the military to shift its presence from Jaffna to the more remote, EPS.

In 1990, EPS was developed into a major military base complex and on 10th July, 1991, LTTE made its fist ever major scale attack at EPS. The LTTE's fighting formations were beaten off after security forces launched its most successful amphibious operation, 'Balavegaya -1' on 14th July. The troops led by Lt. General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Major General Vijaya Wimalarathne landed at the Vettilaikerni beach head engaging LTTE in the most fierce battle fought in the decade. According to defence observers, the success of the campaign was triggered due to the diversion attack 'Asaka Sena', which was under taken by the Commandos and Special Forces (SF). In 1998, LTTE terrorists made another attempt to overrun the base which left LTTE losing and withdrawing its artillery batteries further southeast.

EPS was considered the 'jargon of the current conflict' and was most talked about since SLA's tactical withdrawal from the base complex on 22nd April, 2000.

Elephant Pass and Kurinchattiv are the largest salterns in the island with a combined area of 100 acres, which produced more than 85,000 metric tons of salt per year, before the area was engulfed in the bitter fighting for decades, defence observers said, speaking to defence.lk. The shallow waters through which elephants were once used to carry goods into the Jaffna peninsula from South has given it the name EPS, the sources said citing historical data.

Stunned LTTE proxies and mouth pieces are maintaining deafening silence over the twin debacle at North: loss of EPS and A-9 trunk road. Meanwhile, political observers state that the time is right for the LTTE to give-up arms and surrender without further dragging the Tamil youth towards disaster.

Describing, the LTTE's debacle at EPS "worst ever defeat after Kilinochchi", defence observers said, "It is apparent that we as a nation is finally seeing a definite end to this three decade protracted terrorist cause, and the prevail of a unitary nation under a competent leadership, which is to make history of being the first ever, to defeat terrorism amidst all odds".