On the trail of VICTORY | Sundayobserver.lk

The final countdown

Sri Lanka Armed Forces have reached the final stage of their counter terrorist operation fought against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for more than two and half decades . The mission of our Armed Forces is to free our nation from clutches of terrorism and to make it a country where all Sri Lankans can live in peace and harmony.

The ongoing phase of the battle commenced in August 2006 when terrorists closed down the Mavil Aru sluice gates denying water for more than 30,000 civilians. The terrorists initially had their domination over an area of 15,000 square kilometres in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. The LTTE terrorism was eradicated from the Eastern Province by August 2007.

Land operations were commenced in the Northern Province in March 2007 with the induction of the Army's 57 Division to the Vavuniya area.

The second offensive, Division Task Force 1 was inducted to the battlefield from Mannar in September 2007. Army opened its 3rd Battlefront from Welioya with the induction of the 59 Division in January 2008.

At present, the army has engaged 5 offensive Divisions and 3 Task Forces at remaining LTTE hiding areas in Vanni. LTTE terrorists are boxed into a triangular shape land marked by A-9 Road from the West, A-34 Road from South and the Northeastern coast from the East.

The below is a brief description of the operations carried out by the Army Offensive Divisions engaged in the battlefield 57 Division The 57th Division (57 Div) commanded by Major General Jagath Dias which commenced its operations in March 2007 in Vavuniya. The Division was manuevered directly at the LTTE's heartland Kilinochchi, cutting across the strategically vital northwestern coast and the A-9 Road.

57 Division Timeline

Serial No  	 Date   	Area Liberated
01. 		24 April 2008 	Madhu church complex
02. 		16 May 2008 	Palampiddi Town
03. 		23 May 2008 	Mundumurippu village
04. 		15 June 2008 	Periyamadhu village
05. 		11 July 2008 	Naddankandal village
06. 		13 Aug 2008 	Kalvilan Village
07. 		22 Aug 2008 	Thunukkai and Uilankulam Towns
08. 		02 Sept 2008 	Mallavi Town
09. 		29 Oct 2008 	Akkarayankulam tank bund
10. 		05 Nov 2008 	Akkarayankulam built-up
11. 		01 Dec 2008 	Kokavil town
12. 		10 Dec 2008 	Terumurikandy junction
13. 		02 Jan 2009 	Kilinochchi town
14. 		17 Jan 2009 	Ramanathapuram
15. 		28 Jan 2009 	Visuamadu Town

53 Division - The Army 53rd Division commanded by Brigadier Kamal Gunarathne was initially manning the forward defence line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula. The Division was deployed in the area south of A-9 Road and was one of the two Army Divisions that defended the isolated Jaffna peninsula against LTTE infiltration over the past few years. The Division shifted its mode of operations from defensive to offensive in mid November 2008.

53 Division - Timeline

Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		12 March 2009 	Puthukkudiyirippu Hospital
02. 		01 April 2009 	Pachchapulmuddai
03. 		05 April 2009 	Puthukkudiyiruppu

X 58 Division - The Army 58th Division earlier known as the Task Force 1 commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva commenced its operations from Mannar in September 2007. This was the Division that maneuvered along the Northwestern coast of the Island and denied the LTTE of their vital lifeline that existed across the Palk Strait.

58 Division Timeline

Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		09 May 2008 	Adampan town
02. 		24 June 2008 	Mullikkandal, Minnaniranchan 
				and Marattikannaddi villages
03. 		29 June 2008 	The Mannar Rice Bowl"- Alankulama,Andankulama, 
				Alakaddiveli Parapaknal,Parappukadatan,Papamoddai,
				Odupallam, Neduvarampu, Kannaputtukulama and 
				Vannakulama villages
04. 		30 June 2008 	Linked up with 57 Div -southwest of Periyamadhu
05. 		16 July 2008 	Vidattaltivu town
06. 		02 Aug 2008 	Illuppaikkadavai township
07. 		12 Aug 2008 	Vellankulam town
08. 		12 Aug 2008 	Mulankavil and Pallavarayankaddu areas
09. 		21 Aug 2008 	Nachchikudha
10. 		16 Oct 2008 	Maniyankulama
11. 		20 Oct 2008 	Vannerikkulama
12. 		28 Oct 2008 	Nochchimodai
13. 		29 Oct 2008 	Jeyapuram
14. 		29 Oct 2008 	Nachchikuda
15. 		10 Nov 2008 	Kiranchi
16. 		13 Nov 2008 	Devil's Point and Vallaipadu
17. 		15 Nov 2008 	Pooneryn
18. 		23 Dec 2008 	'Sinna-Paranthan'
19. 		26 Dec 2008 	Nalanawakulam village
20. 		01 Jan 2009 	Paranthan
21. 		08 Jan 2009 	Murasumoddai
22. 		15 Jan 2009 	Dharmapuram
23. 		28 Jan 2009 	Visuamadu Town
24. 		20 Feb 2009 	Thevipuram
25. 		17 March 2009 	Iranapalai Junction
26. 		01 April 2009 	Pachchapulmuddai
27. 		05 April 2009 	Puthukkudiyiruppu

55 Divison - The Army 55th Division commanded by Brigadier Prasanna Silva was initially manning the forward defence line at Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula.

The Division was deployed in the area north of A-9 Road and was one of the two Army Divisions that defended the isolated Jaffna peninsula against LTTE infiltration over the past few years. The Division shifted its mode of operations from defensive to offensive in mid November 2008.

55 Divison - Timeline

Serial No 	Date 			Area Liberated
01. 		05 February 2009 	Chalai

X 59 Division - The Army 59th Division commanded by Brigadier Nandana Udawatte commenced its operations from the WeIioya area in January 2008. Troops of this division slowly but successfully marched across the Andankulam and Nagancholai forest reserves that stood as natural defences for the LTTE's main military bastion in Mullaittivu

59 Division- Timeline

Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		30 May 2008 	Munagam Base
02. 		04 July 2008 	Michael Base
03. 		27 July 2008 	'Sugandan' base
04. 		16 Aug 2008 	Jeevan Base
05. 		21 Aug 2008 	West of Nayaroo lagoon
06. 		23 Oct 2008 	Gajabapura
07. 		11 Nov 2008 	Kumulamunai village
08. 		29 Nov 2008 	Otiyamalai
09. 		26 Dec 2008 	Mulliyawalai
10. 		25 Jan 2009 	Mullaittivu Town

Task Force 2 - The Army Task Force 2 commanded by Brigadier Rohana Bandara commenced its operations in June 2008 from the South of Palamoddai area.

This was the first Army offensive element to maneuver along the west-east axis across A-9.

Task Force 2 - Timeline

Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		11 July 2008 	Navvi village
02. 		04 Dec 2008 	Puliyankulam
03. 		05 Dec 2008 	Kanakarayankulam
04. 		21 Jan 2009 	Udayarkattukulam Tank Bund

Task Force 3 - The Army Task Force 3 commanded by Brigadier Sathyapirya Liyanage commenced its operations in November 2008 from the Vannivilankulam area. This was the second Army offensive element to maneuver along the west-east axis across A-9.

Task Force 3 - Timeline

Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		17 Nov 2008 	Mankulama
02. 		25 Nov 2008 	Olumadu
03. 		15 Dec 2008 	Ampakamam

Task Force 4 - The Army Task Force 4 commanded by Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi commenced its operations in December 2008 from the Nadunkerni area.

This was the second offensive element inducted to the Mullaitivu battlefront after the Army 59 Div.

Task Force 4
Serial No 	Date 		Area Liberated
01. 		20 Dec 2008 	Nedunkerni
02. 		04 Jan 2009 	Oddusuddan
03. 		12 Jan 2009 	Keridattadu

Note: Ranks of the Brigade Commanders were at the time of the final operation.

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