Troops focus on opening land route to Jaffna soon

If there was a slow progress in the Wanni battlefront during the past few weeks and months troops are now witnessing the speediest progress in the battle, especially in the Western edge of the Kilinochchi district taking Tiger territory at a lightning speed to reach one of the historic moments of connecting the main land and the Jaffna peninsula through a land route.

Valaipadu junction on the Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road Pictures by Rukmal Gamage

With the clearing of all the obstacles, especially after capturing the Tiger defence line from Nachchikuda on the Western coast to Akkarayankulam in the South West of Kilinochchi, the troops of the 58 Division which is heading towards the North from the Western coast, and the 57 Division which is heading towards the Northern direction from the South and West of A-9 road made a steady progress within the past seven days.

The speedy advance of Task Force I or 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva towards Pooneryn, was the basis for the Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka to declare that troops were poised to link the Jaffna peninsula through a land route, possibly through Pooneryn Sangupiddy Jetty.

According to the Army Commander, troops were short of only seven Kilometres to reach the Jaffna lagoon that separates the mainland from the Jaffna peninsula. By the time this column went to print troops would have further advanced towards the Pooneryn Paranthan road, the Northernmost road that links the Western coast and the A-9 road.

Fierce fighting erupted in the Western edge of the Kilinochchi district in the West and East of the Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road within the past few days as columns of Tiger cadres made desperate attempts to stop the troops advance towards the North.

Though there was stiff resistance from the LTTE, the resistance came not in an organized manner, as they were scattered in the area with the collapse of their main defence line from Nachchikuda to Akkarayankulam. Troops have not come across a major defence line except for strong points they maintained in tactically important areas and covering main supply routes that link the Western coast and Kilinochchi centre.

They were holding the ground deploying their cadres to strong points in tactically important areas and were unable to face the troops effectively as they were disorganized.

58 Division Commander, Brig. Shavendra Silva discussing Operational matters with his Brigade Commanders Col. Suraj Banshajaya, Lt. Col. Sanjay Wanigasinghe and Lt. Col. Deshapriya Gunawardena at Nachchikuda.

According, 58 Division Commander Brigadier Shavendra Silva, though the LTTE deployed many cadres into the battlefront they were not looking after their cadres effectively. On the Kilinochchi West front the LTTE is facing severe difficulties in maintaining supplies to the Tiger cadres operating there.

Bodies of Tiger cadres killed in the battlefront are recovered by the troops on a daily basis.

It was a clear indication that there is no mechanism for them to evacuate their dead cadres and also the casualties from the battlefront. Many of the wounded Tiger cadres have been found dead by the troops in their follow up search operations. That was why the troops have been able to recover bodies of the Tiger cadres on a daily basis and hand them over to the LTTE through ICRC.

Therefore, the LTTE is now in the process of drawing withdrawal plans, from the Kilinochchi West front rather than trying to defend the ground they were holding in the Western edge of Kilinochchi district.

The LTTE is not in a position to hold the ground in Vallaipadu the main unloading point on the Western coast and in the Pooneryn sector as all their links with Kilinochchi have now been cut off by the Army troops. It was under these circumstances the LTTE has withdrawn from the areas in Vallaipadu and Devils Point in the Pooneryn sector after taking their belongings in boats.

However, the ground troops were able to hit many of their vehicles which were withdrawing from the area towards Kilinochchi after laying ambushes in the jungle patches. The troops of the 58 Division are now holding the eighth mile post on the Mannar - Pooneryn and were short of only 12 Km to reach Pooneryn.

But the troops operating in more interior areas in the East of A-32 road, are short of only six to five Kilometres to reach the Pooneryn - Paranthan road or to reach the Jaffna lagoon.

That would be one of the major turning points in the Wanni and Northern liberation operation as it would deny the LTTE, complete control on the Western coast which had never been done in the entire 25 years long North East conflict.

The most baffling factor for the LTTE is that the opening of a land route from Jaffna to the mainland through Pooneryn Sanguppiddy Jetty across the Jaffna lagoon would relieve one of the major burdens on the Security Forces in the process of maintaining supplies to the Jaffna peninsula.

Advancing troops from the Kilinochchi West front are also getting an advantageous position as they can get the assistance of the long range artillery guns positioned in the Jaffna peninsula to thwart Tiger attempts to stop the advancing troops.

Troops of the 571 Brigade at Akkarayankulam Maha Vidyalaya

Once troops advance into Pooneryn Paranthan road, the Army will also move their long range artillery guns to concentrate on LTTE positions in Muhamalai and Kilali, Pallai, Elephant Pass and Champiyanpattu areas for the first time from the Southern direction.

Currently the LTTE has positioned their long range artillery guns in the north west of Kilinochchi and is concentrating their guns towards the advancing troops in the Western edge of the Kilinochchi district.

However, with improved weather conditions now prevailing in the area, after weeks long rainy period troops are now displaying their highest commitment to achieve the objective very soon.

As troops attached to the 58 Division are advancing towards the Pooneryn Paranthan road taking full control of the Western coast to the LTTE, the 57 Division now operating west of A-9 road upto Akkarayankulam also made considerable progress this week.

The 57 troops were able to capture the entire Akkarayankulam village which is the last village before Kilinochchi by Wednesday evening. The 571 Brigade troops under the command of Colonel G.V. Ravipriya went inside this village after they captured the massive earth bund in the South of this village on October 18.

Columns of troops attached to the 9 Gajaba Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Chandana Somaweera and 12 Sinha Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Indrajith Bandara entered this village and confronted groups of Tiger cadres operating inside this village.

The LTTE strongly held this village as it gave depth to defend Kilinochchi from the advancing troops. A fairly big village stretching more than seven square Kilometres, Akkarayankulam is located some six to seven Km South West of Kilinochchi.

With the capture of this Akkarayankulam village troops are now in a strong position to launch a major assault on the LTTE now strongly holding their positions in Kilinochchi town.

However, capturing Kilinochchi town is not a vital requirement on the part of the Security Forces as they are now holding the most important Western coast belt, depriving the LTTE of their essential supplies including much needed arms and ammunition to continue their fight against Government troops.

Rather than capturing Kilinochchi the Security Forces are now concentrating on opening a new supply route to Jaffna via Pooneryn as it would help keep constant links between mainland and the peninsula even at a time fierce battles erupt in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

It was under these circumstances that Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka on Monday declared that more than 80 per cent of the war is now over according to his analysis about the situation.

Army Commander Lt. General Fonseka made these observations addressing the troops to mark the Silver Jubilee of Gajaba Regiment which is one of the renowned Regiments in the Army.

It created a good forum for the Army Commander to explain his future plans as the Gajaba Regiment has produced three successful commanders to command three offensive Divisions now engaged in the Wanni liberation operation and also in the Northern front.

Major General Jagath Dias, the Colonel of the Gajaba Regiment and the General Officer Commanding of the 57 Division, Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne the General Officer Commanding of the 53 Division operational in the Muhamalai front, Brigadier Jagath Alwis who is in charge of the President’s Security Division, Brigadier Udaya Perera, Director Operations, Brigadier Shavendra Silva who is the first Gajaba officer now commanding the 58 Division or Task Force I and the Commando Brigade, Brigadier Chagi Gallage who commanded the Thoppigala battle and now holds the position of Director Training and Brigadier Nirmal Dharmaratne, the Special Forces Brigade Commander participated at this ceremony.

Therefore, the Army Commander made it a key forum to explain his future plans about the war.

The Army Commander very explicitly explained how troops are in control of 80 per cent of the uncleared areas pointing out that the area between Omanthai to Mankulam is also under the control of the Security Forces as Special Forces and Commando troops are frequently operating in this stretch of land though it had not been captured by the troops.

Apart from this he also claims that the area South of Mankulam to Weli Oya is also virtually under the control of the troops.

According to Army Commander, the next move of the Army is to march from West to East in four major fronts. The four fronts will consisted of the 57 Division, 58 Division, Task Force II and the Task Force III. The target of the 58 Division is to reach upto Paranthan junction and line up with the 57 Division, Task Force II and Task Force III which was launched at the beginning of this week north of Mankulam under the Command of Satyapriya Liyanage.

Commando troops in action on Kilinochchi Front.

Three Brigades under Task Force III is commanded by Lt. Colonel Priyantha Perera who was the Commanding officer of the 7 Gemunu Watch Battalion operating under 59 Division, Lt. Colonel Subashana Welikala who was the Commanding Officer of the 4 Sinha Regiment and Lt. Colonel Prathap Thillekeratne who earlier commanded the 573 Brigade.

Therefore, these four Divisions will form more than a 50 Km long ‘chain’ from North of Kilinochchi to South of Mankulam consisting of more than 30 battalions to take full control of the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

The LTTE is aware of this plan by the military to defeat them in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and is engaged in desperate attempts to avoid their humiliating but certain defeat now looming around them.

Therefore, it will be a common practice for the LTTE to make desperate bids to catch the eye of the international community to obtain their sympathy towards them in the final stage of the war.

It was amidst these setbacks the LTTE bombed the Kelanitissa power station and Thalladi Army Camp last week.

The LTTE would resort to such tactics again and again and would go all out to target the Political leadership and the Military leadership in the country to turn the tide against them.

Therefore, it would not be surprising news for the people if Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran flees the country once he realises the truth that they are being defeated at the hands of the Security Forces in a much bitter way than he had ever expected.