Tiger stronghold Mullaitivu falls

The liberation of the Jaffna Kandy A-9 Road linking the Jaffna peninsula and the mainland through a land route, and the liberation of the entire areas in the West of A-9 Road meant a huge victory for the Security Forces. The liberation of the A-9 Road solved many of the logistic problems faced by the Security Forces, especially of those who were deployed in the Jaffna peninsula.

With the liberation of the A-9 Road, the Security Forces were relieved of a big responsibility of holding the Jaffna FDLs, to which the Sri Lanka Army had to deploy two offensive Divisions along with a massive amount of heavy weapons and ammunition stocks enough to sustain for more than three months of operations in the event supplies are cut off to the peninsula.

Therefore, the liberation of the A-9 Road put the Security Forces in a more strong position compared to the LTTE since the areas coming under the LTTE also began to shrink by this time. However, the most disadvantageous situation for the Security Forces was the civilian population who had been kept under detention of the LTTE.

To face this situation the Government had to take extra precautionary measures as it was a major factor for international intervention in the military effort to crush the LTTE militarily.

It was in October 2008, months prior to the liberation of Tiger stronghold Kilinochchi and the A-9 Road the Security Forces demarcated two areas as ‘No Fire Zones’ for the safe gathering of civilians.

Accordingly two 10 square km ‘no fire zones’ in Vishvamadu and Oddusuddan in Mullaitivu were declared as No Fire Zones by the Government.

Although the Government and the Security Forces expected exodus of civilians into the Government controlled areas following the liberation of Kilinochchi, Elephant Pass and the entire A-9 Road the Tiger outfit continued to keep them under their detention pushing them farther West of A-9 Road.

Therefore, the Security Forces especially the ground Forces had to adopt new strategies to face this situation as the use of heavy weapons against the LTTE also became extremely difficult with the presence of the civilian population.

By mid January, 2009 the ground troops have started their march from East to West direction, especially after the liberation of the A-9 Road. By mid January 2009, eight offensive Divisions, including the three Task Forces were engaged in the Wanni liberation operation. The Task Force I, under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva was officially elevated to a Division after the capture of Paranthan, Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass.

Therefore, five permanent offensive Divisions, 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias, 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva, 59 Division under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta and the two offensive Divisions which were earlier deployed in the Northern front, the 53 Division under the command of Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne and 55 Division under the command of Brigadier Prasanna de Silva also added to the Wanni liberation operation by mid January. The Task Force II under the command of Brigadier Rohana Bandara and the Task Force III under the command of Brigadier Satyapriya Liyanage operated from the South of Kilinochchi to take part in the liberation of the A-9 Road from Omanthai to Mankulam North.

The latest addition to the Wanni liberation operation was the Task Force IV under the command of Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi, which was formed in mid December 2008. It initially had its base in Kalyanapura in Weli Oya and started its offensive operation from Nedunkerni area in the South East of Mankulam and in the East of A-9 Road.

Following the liberation of Elephant Pass and the A-9 Road the then Army Commander decided to shift the 53 Division under the command of Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne to Mankulam area as it was a prerequisite to have a reserve Division to face any emergency situation in the event the LTTE make any attempt to breach the Security Forces defences once they advance further East of A-9 Road.

The 55 Division under the command of Brigadier Prasanna de Silva was deployed to clear beach front in the Jaffna peninsula and to march towards North to South direction along the coastal belt in the North of Mullaitivu.

The 58 Division also marched along the A-35 Paranthan-Mullaitivu Road towards Mullaitivu whilst 57 Division was taking control of the areas in East and South East of Kilinochchi. The Task Force III was operating in the East of A-9 Road between Kokavil and Mankulam whilst Task Force II was operating farther East of A-9 Road in the South of Mankulam.

By this time the SLA also had opened up defensive Divisions to hold the ground they had captured. The 61 Division, Task Force V and Task Force VI had deployed to hold the captured ground in the West of A-9 Road including the key supply routes.

Established their control

It was on December 20, 2008, the newly formed Task Force IV swung into action and established their control in Nedunkerni town on Mullaitivu - Puliyankulam Road after fierce battles.The captured town was located, about 19 Km northeast of Puliyankulam. The deployment of the Task Force IV gave additional strength for the 59 Division which was engaged in a solo battle after coming out of the thick jungle patches in Mullaitivu.

With the deployment of this offensive and defensive battle formations into the Wanni liberation operation further boosted the morale of the Security Forces to continue their military thrust against the LTTE.

Therefore, Mullaitivu the remaining stronghold of the LTTE became the prominent target of the Security Forces. However, capturing of Mullaitivu as an isolated location was considered deadly for the Security Forces considering the earlier experience of the SLA when they maintained Mullaitivu as an isolated camp.

Accordingly, moves were made in support of the 59 Division by the newly formed Task Force IV and the Task Force III. Their main objective was to make a link with the 59 Division which was operating in isolation hugging the North Eastern coast.

By the time, the Tiger stronghold Kilinochchi was fallen to the hands of the Security Forces, the 59 Division had also laid solid foundation achieving their main objective. It was on December 04, 2008 the 59 Division was able to capture the strategic coastal town Alampil in the North East of Kumulamunai. Alampil was a major fishing village and was the closest fishing hamlet to the Mullaitivu town.

The fertile Alampil village area, about 12 km South of Mullaitivu has been used by the LTTE as one of their major Sea Tiger base in support of their Sea Tiger suicide missions and also as their main launching pads, particularly to strike against passing ships and vessels in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka.

The 591 Brigade under the command of Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe took control of the village thus taking the full control of Nayaru Lagoon which was located in the South of Alampil, after fierce battle with the LTTE and overcoming many earth bunds created by the LTTE obstructing their way.

As the 59 Division, taking control of the areas in the South of Mullaitivu, on January 05, 2009, the troops attached to the Task Force - III and Task Force - IV troops completely dominated Mankulam - Oddusudan A-34 Road and forged ahead towards Thanniuttu a village located 43 Km East of the Mankulam junction on the A-9 Road.

The clearing of this road up to Thanniuttu came just a few hours after troops got hold of the southern edge of the Elephant Pass and Oddusudan, one of the major entry points to Mullaitivu. It was on January 10, 2009 the 59 Division troops under the command of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta were able to capture the fourth airfield of the LTTE after fierce battles with the LTTE.

Troops of the 9 SLSR (Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Janaka Ariyaratne serving under the 593 Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jayantha Goonaratne launched the offensive against the LTTE in the area days prior to the capture of the LTTE airstrip. At the end of confrontations that continued on January 9 and 10, troops were able to complete their mission after completely taking control of the LTTE airstrip on January 10 around 9 a.m.

Risky task

Entry to the airstrip was a risky task since it had been surrounded by fortified bunkers and trenches. Troops had to remove booby traps and anti personnel mines laid in the area, about 6.5 northwest of Mulliyavalai town centre and about 5 km west of the Mullaitivu Lagoon.

Troops, after search and clear operations conducted on the 2.5 km long airfield with a 1.5 km long and 100 m wide tarmac, believe that the area had been maintained as a High Security Zone by the LTTE with a tall barbed-wire fence put up about 300 m away from the airstrip.

With these moves the 59 Division laid a solid foundation for the capture of Tiger stronghold Mullaitivu. By this time the 591 Brigade was heading towards the immediate South of Mullaitivu town whilst 593 Brigade was moving Northwards parallel to the Mullaitivu town from the West of Nanthikadal Lagoon or the Mullaitivu Lagoon and reached up to famous Vatrapalai Amman Kovil.

Therefore, they were in a striking distance to the Mullaitivu Tiger stronghold from two directions. However the initial task of the 59 Division was to capture the strong Tiger defence line in the form of ditch cum earth bund covering the entire Nanthikadal Lagoon, Mankulam-Mulaitivu Road and Alampil-Mulaitivu Road.

By January 22, the 59 Division had moved up to Puthukuduiruppu South from the West of Nanthikadal Lagoon. The 591 Brigade was struck in the South of Mulaitivu on the Alampil-Mulaitivu Road for the past one month due to these earth bunds. Many attempts made by the 59 Division on several occasions since December, 26 had to be abandoned due to heavy casualties reported during fierce battles that erupted in this stretch.

Therefore, the 593 Brigade under the command of Colonel Jayantha Gunaratne, who were operating in the West of Nanthikadal Lagoon were given the task of capturing the earth bund. The 7 Gemunu Watch battalion commanded by Lt. Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa was given the task of capturing the earth bund in the South of Mulaitivu before initiating the master plan to capture Mulaitivu town.

He took the task effectively with the support of the 591 Brigade under the command of Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe by Friday morning. During this battle, the LTTE lost control of the strongly held earth bund in the South of Mulaitivu. Only five soldiers sustained injuries during this battle. It was a comparatively negligible number compared to the number of casualties among the troops in earlier occasions.

It was a major breakthrough for the 59 Division which was striving to capture key Mullaitivu stronghold from the LTTE.

The second part of the operation was planned for January, 24 night. The 593 Brigade Commander Colonel Jayantha Gunaratne took the initiative to prepare the plan to capture Mulaitivu town. They were aware that LTTE was strongly holding the town with a large number of their cadres inducted into the town.

Therefore, all plans were set to capture the town in a surprise move.

The three battalions under the command of the Colonel Jayantha Gunaratne, 15 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion under the command of Major Sujeewa Hettiarachchi, 12 SLII under the command of Major Wasantha Perera and 7 Gemunu Watch Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Chaminda Lamahewa were given different tasks.

Two eight-man teams

Two eight-man teams from the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion, under the cover of the thick darkness of Saturday night, silently crossed the Nanthikadal Lagoon to reach the Mullaitivu town centre unnoticed by the Tiger cadres operating there whilst troops in the Southern edge of the Mullaitivu town continue their confrontation with the LTTE to cross the LTTE earth bund constructed by the LTTE.

The Alpha Company under the command of Captain Premachandra took initiative to induct his troops in the centre of the Mullaitivu town.

Sergeant Navaratne, Corporal Chandrasiri, Lance Corporal Sarath Nanda Kumara and Corporal Chaminda Perera were the first to cross the Nanthikadal Lagoon in neck deep water and move into the town.

A number of soldiers crossed the lagoon and lay ambush inside the town until the troops of the 12 and 15 SLLI troops reached the centre of the town from the southern direction.

They made this move unnoticed by the LTTE cadres operating there in the Mullaitivu town and established their positions and passed the details about the presence of the Tiger cadres in the Mullaitivu town area. These two teams were given strict instructions not to make any offensive until the troops operating from the South of Mullaitivu taking their hits.

The 591 Brigade continued their thrust on the LTTE from the South of Mullaitivu from Alampil-Mullaitivu Road direction While the LTTE put up a big resistance to the advancing troops from the two directions, the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion reached the centre of the town from the Eastern edge of the Nanthikadal Lagoon.

As the LTTE was confronting the troops in the centre of Mulaitivu town, they observed a sudden fire from the rear side of the Mulaitivu town. The LTTE cadres were baffled by this situation. Actually it was the surprise move made by the 7 Gemunu Watch battalion to trap the LTTE in the centre, on Saturday night.

It was around 1 p.m. the 593 Brigade troops secured the Mulaitivu town with 15 SLLI troops and taking control of the Eastern edge of the Nanthikadal Lagoon in the West of Mulaitivu town whilst 12 SLLI troops taking the control of beach front of the Mulaitivu town. The 7 Gemunu Watch battalion was deployed in the Northern tip of the Mulaitivu town.

Fierce fighting erupted in the centre of Mullaitivu town as they came under attack of the Security Forces from all fronts compelling the Tiger cadres to make hasty retreat from the town by sea.

Even after 1 p.m. on Sunday after the news about the capture of Mulaitivu hit the streets in Colombo troops conducted search operations to flush out the Tiger cadres who were trying their best to launch counter attacks and recapture the lost terrain.

As the 593 Brigade taking control of the Mulaitivu town, the 591 Brigade under the command of Colonel Aruna Ariyasinghe held the beach front of the Mullaitivu South.

Then the message about the fall of Mullaitivu was passed onto the higher echelon of the Army and the Defence Ministry and the Commander in Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

By January 26 morning the troops attached to the 59 Division secured the entire Mulaitivu town which had fallen into the hands of the LTTE in July, 1996. They raised the national flag after 13 years with the participation of Brigadier Nandana Udawatta.

On January 27, a team of local and foreign media personnel visited the town to observe the situation there. Many of the foreign journalists who went there were surprised having seen the huge earth bunds the LTTE had constructed to secure the Mulaitivu stronghold.

Most journalists saw a devastated town and lost all hope as they saw only few Government buildings which had been left behind by the LTTE.

The arguments they have built over the past two years about the indiscriminate artillery fire of the Security Forces were proved wrong as they observed the situation first-hand.