Army at the gates of Mullaitivu
The Sri Lankan security forces have reached the final stage of their counter terrorism operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which had lasted for more than two and half decades. They are now just a few kilometres away from the LTTE’s last bastion in the Tigers’ so called ‘Tamil Eelam’.
According to defence sources, the military is trying to end the war by capturing the remaining areas before Independence Day on February 4. Sources said that in the last few days alone a large amount of square kilometres were brought under military control.
On several occasions, senior defence officials hinted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Independence Day message would announce uniting the country.
During the last week and a half period the security forces showed significant progress as they captured several key LTTE strongholds as well as some of their equipment.By yesterday the Tigers were confined to a triangular shaped land marked by the A-9 road (Kandy-Jaffna) from the West, A-34 road (Mankulam – Oddusuddan) from South and the Northeastern coast from the East. Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe leading the 591 Brigade under the 59 Division are less than three kilometres away from the LTTE’s last stronghold Mullaitivu, while Lt.Col Jayantha Gunaratne of the 593 Brigade is just two kilometres away from Puthukuduiripu.Troops of the 59 Division, Task Force II, III and IV have reached the southern boundary of Puthukuduirippu while the 57 Division was advancing to Mullaitivu from the east of Kilinochchi. The 58 Division has reached another Tigers’ stronghold Vishwamadu through Murusamodai. The 55 Division, which came from Muhamalai is now operating south of Chundikulam and advancing towards Mullaitivu through the coastal belt.
The 53 Division, which was in Muhamalai is now operating as a reserve division and had been placed in Mankulam and Jaffna to be deployed in any emergency situation in the Wanni battle.
On January 15, the 58 Division led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva captured a key village Dharmapuram east of Paranthan. The village was important as it had several residences belonging to LTTE leaders, the LTTE military operations centre and one of the places where LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran visited.
This is the first time in the history of the Eelam wars that the government forces have captured this village.Earlier, the troops had only moved up to Murusamudai area during the ‘Sathjaya’ operation, but had not moved beyond that area.
The 583 Brigade led by Colonel Suraj Bansarjaya the 7 Sinha Regiment led by Lt. Col Kithsiri Liyanage, the 11 Light Infantry led by Lt. Col. Kithsiri Ekanayake, the 5 Armour led by Lt. Col Nihal Samarakoon and the 10 Gajaba comanded by Major Janaka Udowita have taken control of this village .
With the sudden attack from the military from all frontiers, the LTTE had fled the village and taken the displaced civilians to Vishwamadu area forcibly..During the fierce battle troops were able to capture three senior LTTE cadres who were members of the LTTE leader’s security unit.
The troops also found a massive fuel storage facility in Dharmapuram during a search operation. They have also found 300 fuel barrels which had been buried by the LTTE.The army said that 300 barrels, containing 225 litres of diesel in each, had been buried in a coconut grove in Dharmapuram .The barrels had been properly sealed and covered with polythene before they were buried and the surrounding area filled with water in order to prevent any damage to the barrels in case a fire broke out. The barrels were buried in a land area of nearly 10 acres. The Tigers had placed booby-traps and explosive devices around the premises.
In the eastern side of Dharmapuram troops found an underground bunker located within the civilian houses. The entrance to the bunker is from a cadjan hut. A staircase descending some thirty feet underground leads to a small hall where over fifty people could stay. The military believed that this hideout had been used by the LTTE to hold meetings and discussions of its top hierarchy.
Currently, the 58 Division, which was marching towards Vishvamadu is now just five kilometres away from the eastern sea.
On January 18, the 571 and 572 Brigades of the 57 Division led by Major General Jagath Dias captured the most populated area next to Kilinochchi in Ramanadanpuram. Located in the east of Kilinochchi, Ramanadanpuram stretches over some seven kilomtres. During the battles, the army captured a leading LTTE female cadre – a self-styled Major of the LTTE. ‘Major Ilakshiya’ is one of the bomb experts of the LTTE and the military believe that she had been deployed in the area to set up bombs against the military.
Meanwhile, Task Force II further advanced their defences by six kilometres from the Muttiyankaddu Tank.
The advancing Task Force -2 troops have captured the Udayarkattukulama tank bund in Mullaitivu, after hours of fierce fighting with the LTTE on Wednesday. Latest military reports, said that Task Force -2 infantry formations have directed a two frontal assault at the LTTE. Scores of terrorists were killed and many injured during the confrontations .The troops are now consolidating defences in the area.
The Task Force-2 soldiers operating east of the Udayarkattukulam tank and the Task Force-3 soldiers operating south of the Vishvamadukulam tank in the Teravil-Odduddan forest reserve have been engaged in heavy confrontations with the LTTE in order to capture the tank bund since last Tuesday.
According to the latest battlefield reports, troops of the 6 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (6 VIR) belonging to Task Force-2 have sprung an ambush targeting the terrorists detected in the East of Udayarkattukualm. Elsewhere, troops of 8 Sinha Regiment (8 SR) of the Task Force-2 have captured a LTTE base and five well fortified overhead bunkers and a hut.
After capturing the main LTTE runway in Iranamadu, the troops were able to capture an LTTE Computer expert from the LTTE's air wing. Considered as one of the main persons of the air wing of the LTTE, the computer expert had revealed important details about the Tiger air assets.
The 57 division also captured the sixth runway located north of the Iranamadu main runway. This runway had been used for black Tiger training as well as to make an emergency landing of the LTTE light aircraft. A road had been used to build this 20 metre wide runway.
Beside the runway troops captured a hangar protected with heavy containers filled with soil that was used to hide the LTTE aircraft. The area had been restricted to all civilians. Proving that the place was used to hide the Tiger aircraft, the troops found a locally built bomb used by the LTTE to drop in Colombo and in other air attacks.
With the troops advancing further into the Tiger-held area fierce battles were reported from all fronts since few weeks ago. Considering recent developments, the LTTE fighting capabilities seem to be very low as the troops had advanced more than 4 kilometers area on daily basis causing heavy damage to the LTTE.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka army on Wednesday has expanded the existing safe zone facilitating civilian movement in the rebel-held areas. This strategy is also expected to ensure safety of the civilians who are making constant efforts to flee from LTTE towards the recently liberated areas in both Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi. According to military officials, a 4-km long stretch to the north of Udayarkattu junction and the Yellow Bridge on the A-35 Puthukkudiyiruppu-Paranthan main road up to Iruthumadu (09 23 17.20 N & 080 36 25.70 E) and another 8-km long area from the south of Iruthumadu up to Thevipuram (09 23 17.40 N & 080 40 53.60 E) has been earmarked for this 'Safe Zone' with immediate effect.
The United Nations, on January 16, called on the LTTE to allow the civilians to move into government controlled areas without keeping them as a human shield in the face of military advances.
Earlier, the military declared a no fire zone in Vishvamadu area in the Mullaitivu district in order to prevent civilians getting killed or injured with the intensification of the fighting in the Wanni. However, the fleeing villagers had told the military that the LTTE was keeping some thousands of people as a human shield.
Brainwashing Tiger cadres
The LTTE is famous for creating suicide cadres by brainwashing them to carry out deadly attacks. One of the main programs of their training period is brainwashing the cadres who undergo training. Last week a member of the LTTE’s Charles Anthony brigade was captured by the military in Kilinochchi. During the interrogating sessions intelligence officers had asked which person comes to his mind when mentioned the name Charles. The LTTE cadre in reply had said that it was Charles Anthony alias Seelan, who was killed in the 1980s and the second name he mentioned was LTTE Leader Prabhakaran’s son Charles Anthony.
He also said that according to what they learnt Charles Anthony (Seelan) was a hero. When asked why he was a hero, the LTTE cadre had said that when Seelan and another LTTE leader were trapped in a house, which was surrounded by the Army, the injured Seelan had asked the fellow LTTE member to shoot him and escape from the army.
Because of that he was a hero, the captured cadre had said.
When intelligence officers asked who the fellow LTTE member was, the captured cadre had said that he did not know as the LTTE had not revealed the name.
When officers said that it was LTTE Leader Prabhakaran, the captured cadre had got a shock and said that no LTTE cadre knows about it.
He also revealed that the LTTE leaders were conducting sessions to the Advance Level students in schools in the LTTE held areas. During these sessions the LTTE leaders had engaged in brainwashing the students saying that the Sri Lanka Army Soldiers would sexually harass and assault the sisters and mothers of every Tamil person and because of that everyone should fight against the Sri Lanka Army.
According to defence sources, the military is trying to end the war by capturing the remaining areas before Independence Day on February 4. Sources said that in the last few days alone a large amount of square kilometres were brought under military control.
On several occasions, senior defence officials hinted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Independence Day message would announce uniting the country.
During the last week and a half period the security forces showed significant progress as they captured several key LTTE strongholds as well as some of their equipment.By yesterday the Tigers were confined to a triangular shaped land marked by the A-9 road (Kandy-Jaffna) from the West, A-34 road (Mankulam – Oddusuddan) from South and the Northeastern coast from the East. Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe leading the 591 Brigade under the 59 Division are less than three kilometres away from the LTTE’s last stronghold Mullaitivu, while Lt.Col Jayantha Gunaratne of the 593 Brigade is just two kilometres away from Puthukuduiripu.Troops of the 59 Division, Task Force II, III and IV have reached the southern boundary of Puthukuduirippu while the 57 Division was advancing to Mullaitivu from the east of Kilinochchi. The 58 Division has reached another Tigers’ stronghold Vishwamadu through Murusamodai. The 55 Division, which came from Muhamalai is now operating south of Chundikulam and advancing towards Mullaitivu through the coastal belt.
The 53 Division, which was in Muhamalai is now operating as a reserve division and had been placed in Mankulam and Jaffna to be deployed in any emergency situation in the Wanni battle.
On January 15, the 58 Division led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva captured a key village Dharmapuram east of Paranthan. The village was important as it had several residences belonging to LTTE leaders, the LTTE military operations centre and one of the places where LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran visited.
This is the first time in the history of the Eelam wars that the government forces have captured this village.Earlier, the troops had only moved up to Murusamudai area during the ‘Sathjaya’ operation, but had not moved beyond that area.
The 583 Brigade led by Colonel Suraj Bansarjaya the 7 Sinha Regiment led by Lt. Col Kithsiri Liyanage, the 11 Light Infantry led by Lt. Col. Kithsiri Ekanayake, the 5 Armour led by Lt. Col Nihal Samarakoon and the 10 Gajaba comanded by Major Janaka Udowita have taken control of this village .
With the sudden attack from the military from all frontiers, the LTTE had fled the village and taken the displaced civilians to Vishwamadu area forcibly..During the fierce battle troops were able to capture three senior LTTE cadres who were members of the LTTE leader’s security unit.
The troops also found a massive fuel storage facility in Dharmapuram during a search operation. They have also found 300 fuel barrels which had been buried by the LTTE.The army said that 300 barrels, containing 225 litres of diesel in each, had been buried in a coconut grove in Dharmapuram .The barrels had been properly sealed and covered with polythene before they were buried and the surrounding area filled with water in order to prevent any damage to the barrels in case a fire broke out. The barrels were buried in a land area of nearly 10 acres. The Tigers had placed booby-traps and explosive devices around the premises.
In the eastern side of Dharmapuram troops found an underground bunker located within the civilian houses. The entrance to the bunker is from a cadjan hut. A staircase descending some thirty feet underground leads to a small hall where over fifty people could stay. The military believed that this hideout had been used by the LTTE to hold meetings and discussions of its top hierarchy.
Currently, the 58 Division, which was marching towards Vishvamadu is now just five kilometres away from the eastern sea.
On January 18, the 571 and 572 Brigades of the 57 Division led by Major General Jagath Dias captured the most populated area next to Kilinochchi in Ramanadanpuram. Located in the east of Kilinochchi, Ramanadanpuram stretches over some seven kilomtres. During the battles, the army captured a leading LTTE female cadre – a self-styled Major of the LTTE. ‘Major Ilakshiya’ is one of the bomb experts of the LTTE and the military believe that she had been deployed in the area to set up bombs against the military.
Meanwhile, Task Force II further advanced their defences by six kilometres from the Muttiyankaddu Tank.
The advancing Task Force -2 troops have captured the Udayarkattukulama tank bund in Mullaitivu, after hours of fierce fighting with the LTTE on Wednesday. Latest military reports, said that Task Force -2 infantry formations have directed a two frontal assault at the LTTE. Scores of terrorists were killed and many injured during the confrontations .The troops are now consolidating defences in the area.
The Task Force-2 soldiers operating east of the Udayarkattukulam tank and the Task Force-3 soldiers operating south of the Vishvamadukulam tank in the Teravil-Odduddan forest reserve have been engaged in heavy confrontations with the LTTE in order to capture the tank bund since last Tuesday.
According to the latest battlefield reports, troops of the 6 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (6 VIR) belonging to Task Force-2 have sprung an ambush targeting the terrorists detected in the East of Udayarkattukualm. Elsewhere, troops of 8 Sinha Regiment (8 SR) of the Task Force-2 have captured a LTTE base and five well fortified overhead bunkers and a hut.
After capturing the main LTTE runway in Iranamadu, the troops were able to capture an LTTE Computer expert from the LTTE's air wing. Considered as one of the main persons of the air wing of the LTTE, the computer expert had revealed important details about the Tiger air assets.
The 57 division also captured the sixth runway located north of the Iranamadu main runway. This runway had been used for black Tiger training as well as to make an emergency landing of the LTTE light aircraft. A road had been used to build this 20 metre wide runway.
Beside the runway troops captured a hangar protected with heavy containers filled with soil that was used to hide the LTTE aircraft. The area had been restricted to all civilians. Proving that the place was used to hide the Tiger aircraft, the troops found a locally built bomb used by the LTTE to drop in Colombo and in other air attacks.
With the troops advancing further into the Tiger-held area fierce battles were reported from all fronts since few weeks ago. Considering recent developments, the LTTE fighting capabilities seem to be very low as the troops had advanced more than 4 kilometers area on daily basis causing heavy damage to the LTTE.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka army on Wednesday has expanded the existing safe zone facilitating civilian movement in the rebel-held areas. This strategy is also expected to ensure safety of the civilians who are making constant efforts to flee from LTTE towards the recently liberated areas in both Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi. According to military officials, a 4-km long stretch to the north of Udayarkattu junction and the Yellow Bridge on the A-35 Puthukkudiyiruppu-Paranthan main road up to Iruthumadu (09 23 17.20 N & 080 36 25.70 E) and another 8-km long area from the south of Iruthumadu up to Thevipuram (09 23 17.40 N & 080 40 53.60 E) has been earmarked for this 'Safe Zone' with immediate effect.
The United Nations, on January 16, called on the LTTE to allow the civilians to move into government controlled areas without keeping them as a human shield in the face of military advances.
Earlier, the military declared a no fire zone in Vishvamadu area in the Mullaitivu district in order to prevent civilians getting killed or injured with the intensification of the fighting in the Wanni. However, the fleeing villagers had told the military that the LTTE was keeping some thousands of people as a human shield.
Brainwashing Tiger cadres
The LTTE is famous for creating suicide cadres by brainwashing them to carry out deadly attacks. One of the main programs of their training period is brainwashing the cadres who undergo training. Last week a member of the LTTE’s Charles Anthony brigade was captured by the military in Kilinochchi. During the interrogating sessions intelligence officers had asked which person comes to his mind when mentioned the name Charles. The LTTE cadre in reply had said that it was Charles Anthony alias Seelan, who was killed in the 1980s and the second name he mentioned was LTTE Leader Prabhakaran’s son Charles Anthony.
He also said that according to what they learnt Charles Anthony (Seelan) was a hero. When asked why he was a hero, the LTTE cadre had said that when Seelan and another LTTE leader were trapped in a house, which was surrounded by the Army, the injured Seelan had asked the fellow LTTE member to shoot him and escape from the army.
Because of that he was a hero, the captured cadre had said.
When intelligence officers asked who the fellow LTTE member was, the captured cadre had said that he did not know as the LTTE had not revealed the name.
When officers said that it was LTTE Leader Prabhakaran, the captured cadre had got a shock and said that no LTTE cadre knows about it.
He also revealed that the LTTE leaders were conducting sessions to the Advance Level students in schools in the LTTE held areas. During these sessions the LTTE leaders had engaged in brainwashing the students saying that the Sri Lanka Army Soldiers would sexually harass and assault the sisters and mothers of every Tamil person and because of that everyone should fight against the Sri Lanka Army.
