Troops in full control of Visuamadu and Chalai

Tiger attempts to breach defences fail

Massive influx of civilians expected

As the entire nation was celebrating the 61st Independence Day in Colombo under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and displaying the military might of the Security Forces and the Police with thousands of Forces personnel participating in the Independence Day Parade, the Security Forces in the Northern battle front went ahead with their military thrust against the LTTE.

Their efforts were not only aimed at liberating the remaining areas under Tiger control but also to liberate the innocent civilians entrapped there and to foil all desperate LTTE attempts to reverse the military victories.

The LTTE has ignored the 48 hour ultimatum given for the LTTE to allow the civilians taken hostage by them to enter the safe zone and liberated areas. Though it was not a Ceasefire, the Security Forces to a certain extent relaxed the intensity of their military thrust on Tiger controlled areas expecting a massive influx of civilians into Government controlled areas.

The Security Forces deployed additional vehicles and men and women expecting that more civilians will arrive in the Security Forces controlled areas during this 48 hour period. But there was a poor response to as only 300 civilians arrived in Security Forces controlled areas.

It was a very low figure compared to the number of civilians entrapped there in Puthukuduyiruppu North and West and Visuamadu areas as Government Agent in Mullaitivu has confirmed that 118,000 people are living in uncleared areas there.

The Government Agent in Mullaitivu came out with this figure while many agencies including ICRC and the UN claiming that more than 250,000 people are entrapped there.

Positive response

Although, LTTE had not positively responded to this invitation extended to the LTTE by the President complying to diverse requests and above all acutely concerning the plight of the civilians entrapped in the Tiger controlled areas, they had taken maximum advantage out of the 48 hour period for the civilians to take refuge in safety zone.

The Tiger leaders who had failed in all their endeavors; blast of Kalmadukulam tank bund and their attempt to blast Iranamadu tank bund, to stop the military advance into their territory, took this 48 hour period to lay down plans to ruin the military victories and to ruin the Independence Day celebrations in Colombo.

Above all the capture of Mullaitivu, the last township in the Eastern coast controlled by the LTTE, by the Security Forces on January 25 had given them severe blow as they have been left with only Puthukuduyiruppu and Chalai Sea Tiger Base at present for all their terror activities.

The Tiger plans were unfurled on Sunday morning with columns of Tiger cadres infiltrating into the Security Forces defences South of Puthukuduiruppu and West of Nanthikadal lagoon.

Independence celebrations

Their intention was to push the Security Forces out of Puthukuduyiruppu South as it was the only township they have been left with in Mullaitivu at present. LTTE feared that the troops would conquer Puthukuduyiruppu too by the time 61st Independence Day celebrations take place on February 04.

According to military intelligence all top level Tiger leaders - Sea Tiger leaders Soosai, Theepan, Swarnam and Bhanu were on communication sets instructing the over 150 Tiger cadres who had infiltrated the Security Forces defences West of Nanthikadal lagoon.

The infiltrated Tiger cadres had attacked number of Army vehicles which were operating South of Puthukuduyiruppu and causing a fair number of casualties among the troops. The Tiger cadres who infiltrated into these defences had attacked several Company Headquarters of the 593 Brigade located West of Nanthikadal lagoon.

Intense fighting erupted in the Puthukuduyiruppu South as Tiger cadres opened fire at the Security Forces defences and the vehicles operating there Puthukuduyiruppu South. Many soldiers wounded in the fighting were rushed to Oddusudan area and taken to Vavuniya for further treatment.

53 Division

The Air Mobile Brigade which was operating under 53 Division under the command of Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne was rushed to the Puthukuduyiruppu South area as intense fighting continued till Monday morning in Puthukuduyiruppu South.

Some soldiers went missing during the fierce fighting that erupted on Sunday. On Monday further measures were taken to strengthen the defences of the 59 Division under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta and the Task Force IV under the command of Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi, which were operating in Puthukuduyiruppu South.

The Forward Defence Lines were readjusted to face this situation with additional troops deployed into these defences in search of Tiger cadres that had infiltrated into the area. There were strong indications that a number of Tiger cadres have infiltrated into the area due to isolated incidents taking place in Oddusudan North and Puthukuduiruppu South areas.

As Tiger cadres that infiltrated into Puthukuyiruppu South failed to achieve their objective the Tiger leaders had sent an explosive laden cab and a truck into Security Forces defence South of Puthukuduyiruppu on Tuesday evening. The two explosive laden vehicles run by two suicide cadres were exploded after reaching the Security Forces defences South of Puthukuduyiruppu.

But the LTTE could not reach the desired objectives through these suicide blasts but only displayed its desperation. According to military intelligence, the Tiger leadership had planned this operation to reach up to Oddusudan and cut off the troops operating in Mullaitivu and Puthuthukuduyiruppu South region.

Through this, they wanted to give clear message to the international community that they still have the strength to fight back at the time Sri Lanka celebrates 61st Independence Day in Colombo.

But all those plans were foiled by the Security Forces sacrificing their lives and limbs on behalf of the motherland.

This was clear evidence to prove that the LTTE has not given up their fight against the Security Forces but failed in all their endeavors as Security Forces stands strongly against the terror plans of the LTTE.

These desperate attempts of the LTTE very clearly indicate they are making their final attempts to resist the Security Forces as they are aware that within the next few days Security Forces are ready to overrun the remaining territories under them.

They are making use of any lull in the battle, whether it was given by the Government in view of the safety of the civilians or any other purpose, to regroup. It is apparent that the LTTE would cause massive destruction in Puthukuduyiruppu, the last township under their control once the Security Forces reaching towards this massive buildup area West of Mullaitivu.

Severe hardships

The Tiger leadership will not hesitate to prey on any civilian life to deter the speedy advance of the troops. They want to show that people are not willing to move into the Government controlled areas despite the severe hardships they face.

The LTTE is taking maximum advantage out of the civilians entrapped there in Puthukuduyiruppu, to tarnish the image of the Security Forces and to get the international community exert pressure on the Government to declare a Ceasefire.

But many countries, international organizations except for a handful number of countries sympathetic to the terror cause of the LTTE, have realized that many of the allegations leveled against the Security Forces are baseless.

Though the LTTE is trying to highlight the plight of the civilians entrapped in uncleared areas, the Government has already taken precautionary measures to keep the civilians in safety zone after duly informing them about the areas safe for them.

It has been very clear that the LTTE is engaged in a campaign similar to the campaign they carried out during the Vakarai operation in the year 2006 highlighting civilian deaths and casualties due to artillery fire by the LTTE. It was later proved that the LTTE itself was firing at the civilian populated areas to give them a wrong picture about the Security Forces.

Though the LTTE talks highly about the plight of the civilians they have once again displayed that they have no iota of respect to the children of civilians living in the areas under their control.

The 55 Division under the command of Brigadier Prasanna Silva has witnessed how LTTE is making use of children as combatants and suicide bombers on Wednesday as they were advancing towards Chalai, the last Sea Tiger base in the Eastern coast.

As the 55 Division commenced the final phase of their operation to capture Chalai around mid noon on Wednesday a young girl aged 13 to 14 suddenly appeared in front of the Tiger defences and started to reach the Security Forces defenses as if she was going to surrender to the Security Forces.

Strong indications

A soldier in the front line after observing her suspicious move and challenged her to stop. Once she was stopped there the girl had exploded her suicide kit that she was wearing causing minor injuries to the soldier.

The Security Forces believe that she had been sent to the defence line to cause maximum casualties to the Security Forces as there was no other option available for them to stop the troops advance into Chalai.

This gives strong indications that the LTTE is ready to send their human bombs one after the other at the last battle which is going to be fought in the Puthukuduiruppu as Visuamnadu and Chalai have been captured by the troops as of yesterday.

The 55 Division commenced the operation to capture Chalai on February 1. The 55 Division planned the operation in two stages. The first was to cross the open terrain and the second was to cross the 350 metre long lagoon stretch between the two islands.

The 4 Gemunu Watch under the command of Major Upul Senerath attached to the 552 Brigade was given the task of crossing the open terrain with earth bunds. After commencing the operation on February 1 at 6.30 p.m. the 4 Gemunu Watch troops completed their task amidst heavy artillery and mortar fire of the LTTE.

The second phase of the operation was entrusted to the 553 Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Mahinda Weerasuriya. The 7 Vijayabha Infantry Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Deepal Pussellage, and 6 Sri Lanka Light Infantry battalion under the command of Major Manada Yahampath commenced the second phase of the battle on February 2. The 1 Commando Regiment also gave close support for the 553 Brigade.

The 553 Brigade reached Chalai Sea Tiger base after capturing three massive earth bunds constructed by the LTTE to stop the advance of the troops towards Chalai. The Sea Tigers made desperate attempts to stop the advancing troops after reaching the area in five boats and attacking the troops of the 6 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion.

Large attacks

Troops foiled all these attempts by the Sea Tigers and reached Chalai destroying LTTE boats.

The troops also recovered from the area a large attack craft belonging to the Sea Tigers and a large haul of weapons. Three Sea Tiger leaders including Vinyagam, supposed to be the third in command of the Sea Tiger wing, were also killed during the battle.

As 55 Division reached the Chalai Sea Tiger base the 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias and 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva completed the mission of capturing Visuamadu area amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE.

The 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva captured Visuamadu area North of A-35 road whilst 572 Brigade under the command of Colonel Senerath Bandara and 574 Brigade under the command of Lt. Colonel Senaka Wijesuriya captured the southern part of the Visuamadu town.

The 6 Gemunu Watch battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Kamal Pinnawala operating in Piramanthal area North of Visuamadu captured the seventh and last airfield under the control of the LTTE on Tuesday putting and end to LTTE’s air capability.

It was after a long and arduous task undertaken by the ground troops, the airstrips of the LTTE were taken under Security Forces control since it was difficult to destroy the Tiger air capability by bombing their facilities by air.

The only challenge left with the Security Forces is the finding their aircraft which may be hidden in underground bunkers by this time. Apart from this 58 Division has also recovered large stocks of weapons and other facilities in the Visuamadu North area.

The 572 Brigade under the command of Colonel Senerath Bandara has also recovered a Tiger hospital on Tuesday. They have also captured a luxury house fitted with a lift in Visuamadu South.

As of yesterday the 57 Division is heading towards Puthukuduyiruppu from West to East direction whilst 58 Division which had reached to the North of Puthukuduyiruppu has commenced their operations in a North to South direction.

As all offensive Divisions are heading towards Puthukuduyiruppu from all directions an exodus of civilians has commenced. By yesterday morning some 700 civilians have arrived in Government controlled Visuamadu and Tharmapuram areas seeking refuge of the Security Forces.

Therefore it is expected that the remaining civilians will also arrive in cleared areas within the next few days as the battle is becoming fiercer in the coming days with the LTTE resorting to more desperate acts to avoid their certain defeat.