STF Consolidating Their Positions in Kanchikudichchiaru
Successfully advancing Special Task Force personnel captured 12 LTTE camps in the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve and are currently consolidating their positions under heavy resistance from the LTTE. Advancing troops recovered 63 Jonnie mines and 10 claymore mines since the 4th of January. Withdrawing LTTE cadres had heavily mined the terrain to delay advancing troops. Meanwhile, five LTTE cadres between the ages of 16 to 20 surrendered to the STF from the Kanchikudichchiaru area yesterday (14).
According to latest information, LTTE women cadres had been housed at the DIANA camp lead by a Tiger leader 'SWARNA' At the ELEIVAN camp the LTTE had gathered and maintained documents of intelligence value such as maps. Intelligence also reveals that the LTTE had used the MADURAKAVI camp for combat training and to torture cadres who were caught trying to escape. The LTTE had maintained a tailor shop at the JANAK camp where uniforms were stitched for their cadres.
The STF had located 4 main storerooms packed with large quantities of tsunami aid including canned food, dry rations, sanitary products, tents, large number of mosquito coils packets and sleeping bags. Almost all LTTE underground bunkers were roofed with sand bags made out of tsunami aid sacks.
The STF offensive ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ was launched on 4th January 2006 to liberate the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve from the LTTE. The presence of LTTE cadres in the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU area was a threat on civilian settlements nearby. On 2nd January 2006 in BAKMITIYAWA, a postman, his wife and two others (all Sinhalese) were abducted and killed by the LTTE. Subsequently, an 18 year old boy, Dayananda was abducted by the LTTE and the STF launched a search operation to find the boy. Later on the students of the BAKMITIYAWA MAHA VIDYALAYA staged a protest against LTTE abductions. Complaints from the public against LTTE abductions, extortions, force recruitment, illegal timber, cannabis and ivory trade were on the rise. Moreover, farmers could not use the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU tank for irrigation due to LTTE atrocities.
The KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU tank was renovated by D.S Senanayaka under the ‘GANGA NIMNA SANGWARDANAYA MANDALAYA’ in 1948. The tank can irrigate around 120,000 acres of cultivated land. The tank had sustained over 15 villages in early days.
The STF’s offensive ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ continues with consecutive successes for the Special Task Force. The STF has successfully overrun 12 main LTTE bases with minimum casualties. 4 STF personnel sustained injuries due to anti personnel mine explosions. The Commandant of the STF, DIG Nimal Lewke was in the forefront directing his men in the ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ operation in KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU.
Successfully advancing Special Task Force personnel captured 12 LTTE camps in the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve and are currently consolidating their positions under heavy resistance from the LTTE. Advancing troops recovered 63 Jonnie mines and 10 claymore mines since the 4th of January. Withdrawing LTTE cadres had heavily mined the terrain to delay advancing troops. Meanwhile, five LTTE cadres between the ages of 16 to 20 surrendered to the STF from the Kanchikudichchiaru area yesterday (14).
Mortor Bikes for Suicide Missions
LTTE camps such as STANLY, PARAMANANDA, BAGAYADHI, JANAK, JEEVAN, DIANA, SHASHI, ELETHTHIYAN, ELEIVAN, ARIDEVAN, MADURAKAVI and RAM were so far seized by the STF under the "NIYATHAI JAYA" offensive launched on 4th January 2006. According to latest information, LTTE women cadres had been housed at the DIANA camp lead by a Tiger leader 'SWARNA' At the ELEIVAN camp the LTTE had gathered and maintained documents of intelligence value such as maps. Intelligence also reveals that the LTTE had used the MADURAKAVI camp for combat training and to torture cadres who were caught trying to escape. The LTTE had maintained a tailor shop at the JANAK camp where uniforms were stitched for their cadres.
50 Kv Generator
The entire LTTE complex in the KACHIKUDICHCHIARU area west of LAHUGALA forest reserve in AMPARA spans an area of about 1000 acres. According to the STF, certain camps were located within a high security zone under thick forest cover with 24 hours of electricity supplied by 50 KV and 25 KV generators. These camps were believed to have been used by LTTE leaders. The PARAMANANDA base had been used by PARAMANANDA MASTER, the LTTE leader in charge of explosives. The STF recovered a 29" Flatron TV and a DVD player from the PARAMANANDA camp. From other bases used by leaders, STF troops recovered 29" Flatron TVs, generators, Nissan vans, double cabs and satellite phones. Most of the luxury vehicles were booby trapped and left behind by fleeing tiger cadres. Evidence also indicates that access to these camps had been restricted to ordinary LTTE cadres. The STF has also recovered around 30 generators both portable and fixed, water pumps, and other vehicles from the overrun LTTE camps. The LTTE has also built a bungalow for visitors inside the jungle. The STF had located 4 main storerooms packed with large quantities of tsunami aid including canned food, dry rations, sanitary products, tents, large number of mosquito coils packets and sleeping bags. Almost all LTTE underground bunkers were roofed with sand bags made out of tsunami aid sacks.
Torture Chambers
At the MADURAKAVI camp torture chambers and lockups were established to torture escapees and informers including women cadres. The torture cells built by the LTTE are gloomy and around 1 1/2 feet in height while the lockups are a little bigger than ordinary kennels. Many of the surrendered LTTE child cadres have repeatedly revealed the harassments meted out to them by the LTTE if they are caught escaping. In a cleared patch of land there is a well maintained cemetery built by the LTTE. The STF did not cause any damage to the cemetery. 
LTTE Cemetery
Cannabis
The STF offensive in the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve has brought to light many illegal activities of the LTTE. The LTTE has engaged in illegal timber, ivory, and cannabis trade in addition to their routine abductions, extortions and forced recruitment. The STF had come across a large plantation of cannabis grown by the LTTE deep inside the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve. STF troops also detected carcasses of elephants dumped in swamps which indicate that they had been killed for their tusks. 
Skull of a Tusker
Illegal Timber
Advancing STF troops had also detected thick vegetation in the forest reserve being cleared to build houses for the families of their Mahaveer, Ponveer and auxiliary force cadres. According to intelligence sources these houses are given only for LTTE families. The STF offensive ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ was launched on 4th January 2006 to liberate the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU forest reserve from the LTTE. The presence of LTTE cadres in the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU area was a threat on civilian settlements nearby. On 2nd January 2006 in BAKMITIYAWA, a postman, his wife and two others (all Sinhalese) were abducted and killed by the LTTE. Subsequently, an 18 year old boy, Dayananda was abducted by the LTTE and the STF launched a search operation to find the boy. Later on the students of the BAKMITIYAWA MAHA VIDYALAYA staged a protest against LTTE abductions. Complaints from the public against LTTE abductions, extortions, force recruitment, illegal timber, cannabis and ivory trade were on the rise. Moreover, farmers could not use the KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU tank for irrigation due to LTTE atrocities.
The KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU tank was renovated by D.S Senanayaka under the ‘GANGA NIMNA SANGWARDANAYA MANDALAYA’ in 1948. The tank can irrigate around 120,000 acres of cultivated land. The tank had sustained over 15 villages in early days.
The STF’s offensive ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ continues with consecutive successes for the Special Task Force. The STF has successfully overrun 12 main LTTE bases with minimum casualties. 4 STF personnel sustained injuries due to anti personnel mine explosions. The Commandant of the STF, DIG Nimal Lewke was in the forefront directing his men in the ‘NIYATHAI JAYA’ operation in KANCHIKUDICHCHIARU.
