Mannar marks liberation anniversary
by Dhaneshi YATAWARA
Tomorrow, the June 29, commemorates the first anniversary of the
liberation of the famous Mannar `Rice Bowl'. Exactly one year ago, Sri
Lanka Army's 58 Division completely liberated the entire `Rice Bowl'
after a long, stiff battle raging through days and nights.
By end of September 2007, Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka
decided to launch the 58 Division to liberate the Northwestern coastal
belt above Mannar starting from the `Rice Bowl' and Brigadier Shavendra
Silva was appointed as its General Officer Commanding (GOC). Under the
strong guidance of General Fonseka, troops of the 58 Division were led
to victory within a short period. Even amidst heavy rains dipping
themselves in muddy water, while their colleagues on either side dying
or getting injured and knowing that the terrain they are to cross is
dotted with lethal Anti Personal Mines, soldiers never gave up and
fought hard to eliminate Prabhakaran and the LTTE terror outfit.
The `Rice Bowl' covers a total of 123 square kilometres and is dotted
with approximately 153 major and minor tanks and a web of irrigation
canals spread across the plain. Even the slightest movement of an object
is clearly visible for several miles! A major part of the battle was
carried out in the darkness of the night.
Having studied the ground situation and the strength of the enemy
Brigadier Shavendra Silva started the advancement of the Division in
three fronts - one moving forward from Thirukethiswaran towards Manthota,
the second towards Palakkuli and the last from Uyilankulama towards
Parappakandal.
By November troops strongly felt the enemy's weak responses. By end
of November they broke the first enemy defence line including Palakkuli,
Manthota and part of Parappakandal general area.
Thereafter, for more than two months, from December 2007 till
February 2008 troops faced heavy rains and storms in the monsoon season.
Mother Nature gave them the biggest challenge yet the soldiers proved
nothing could stop them.
LTTE was stoutly resisting troop movements and kept on holding their
fortified camps, bunkers, villages and tank bunds that were
strategically important to them. With the rains the LTTE expected the
Army to relax their momentum but with determination our valiant troops
moved ahead.
However 250-300 LTTE cadres got killed during confrontations.
Troops had to cross several kilometres of open land and at different
points they used different tactics. At times they moved in between two
enemy lines and destroyed both at once. The mission would be either an
assault or moving towards the enemy by digging ditches or fixing
haversack covers during the night and launch their attack in the wee
hours next day.
The entire Army defence line was steadily progressing towards Adampan,
Pikkulam, Parappakandal and Karukkakulam general areas breaking their
second defence line. Signifying their accelerated progress, troops
captured Adampan town on May 09. Progressing from Adampan troops next
captured Mullikandal, Minnaniranchan and Marattikannadi villages by June
24. While progressing towards Minnukulam, Nethunkandal, Periyakulam and
Alankulam troops breached the LTTE's third and the last defence line in
the `Rice Bowl' area.
Breaching the stiff resistance troops reached Nedunkandal and
Minnukulam and advancing further captured two villages, namely
Maraththikandal and Chalampan which were strategically important to the
enemy. With this victory troops successfully blocked the main supply
routes of the LTTE from Vedithalathivu to the `Rice Bowl'.
Capturing over 123 square kilometres of flat land and about 23 square
kilometres area of the Giants' tank soldiers attached to the 58 Division
regained the entire `Rice Bowl' eliminating enemy strongholds. According
to statistics available with the 58 Division immediately after this
liberation, nearly 2,058 LTTE cadres were reported to be killed while
1,408 were injured in addition to the large stock of weapons discovered
by the Army.
Going ahead
While the military operations were going on north of Mannar, the
Thalladi causeway was under construction. It will be completed by March
next year.
As soon as the area was liberated the Government initiated the long,
strenuous de-mining process. "Major part of the de-mining is conducted
by the Sri Lanka Army and three more renowned Non Governmental
Organizations," said Chandra Fernando, spokesperson for the Presidential
Task Force for `Uthuru Wasanthaya' (Northern spring) chaired by Senior
Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa M.P. "De-mining is progressing in
the Manthai West and in the Giants' Tank areas at present," Fernando
said. The renovation of the Giant Tank and the irrigation network is in
progress at the moment.
Access roads
"Due to the LTTE threats most of the access roads in the district
were not properly maintained and restoration of the road network would
give a boost to the entire development program," S. Yoganandan, Director
(Planning) of the Mannar district secretariat said.
Under the "Northern Spring", the A14 road or the Medawachchiya-Mannar
road is being reconstructed from Cheddikulam to Murunkan.
The reconstruction of the entire 48 kilometres of the A32 road will
be initiated soon. Under a Asian Development Bank funded project the
Silavaturai-Murunkan road is being developed at present.
The short and long term programs under the 180-day accelerated
development program for the Northern Province under Northern spring, is
actively progressing in the Mannar district giving hopes for a better
tomorrow!
Resettling IDPs
The Task Force is in the process of finding out the owners of farming
lands. Soon the people will be given agricultural equipment, tractors,
seed paddy, fertilizer subsidiaries etc., for them to start their
farming again.
Restrictions imposed on fishing was totally lifted giving a boost to
the once flourishing fishing industry of Mannar.
Out of the total area of Mannar district which is 2002.7 square
kilometres, paddy lands cover 19,318 hectares. Out of the entire
population in the district 34 - 35% depend on fishing and about half the
population comprises farming families. In 2006-2007 Maha season Mannar
district produced 31,285 metric tonnes of paddy and in Yala (2007)
another 2,904 metric tonnes.
The irrigable stretch of land that comes under Akkathimurippu and
Viyadikulam tanks in the Musali Divisional Secretariat Division amounts
to 6,231 ha and 1,223 ha, respectively. In addition, Periyamadu,
Vellimaruthamadu, Kurai, Adampankulam of Manthai West and
Periyapandivirichchan and the Maruthamadu anicut provide water to a
total of 530 hectares of land.
The fishing harvest in Mannar is relatively substantial. In 2007,
Mannar fishermen have collected 6,875 metric tonnes of fresh fish and
595 metric tonnes of dry fish. According to 2006 statistics 9,147
fishermen were registered in the district.
While the sacred Madu Church prepares itself for the grand festival
in August, people are being resettled in Mannar starting from the Musali
area.
The Government is also in the process of re-opening the schools that
were closed down due to terrorist activities. |
