Even as the international backers for Norway’s peace process in Sri Lanka prepared for an ‘urgent’ meeting over the deteriorating situation in the country, Colombo’s armed forces launched a major onslaught against the Liberation Tigers’ position in the Jaffna peninsula.
After almost three days of intense bombardment, large numbers of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops attacked the LTTE’s forward defence lines (FDLs) in Muhamalai. LTTE forces fell back to their second line of defence and, using artillery and mortars, stalled the Sri Lankan offensive.
SLA officials are making no secret that they intend to continue their offensives against the Tigers with the intention of recapturing the Elephant Pass (EP) area.
EP used to be site of the biggest SLA base complex in the island. It fell to the Tigers following a major LTTE offensive lasting three months in 2000.
The SLA base complex there has since been razed to the ground, but EP is a much sought after prestige target for President Mahinda Rajapakse.
On Saturday September 9, hundreds of SLA troops launched the offensive from three locations along the Jaffna front lines.
SLA troops had moved almost a kilometer (half-mile) into territory previously held by the Tigers, military sources told AFP.
After halting their offensive, the military said “troops are now in process of consolidating their positions after they, with assistance of the Air Force, neutralized the LTTE artillery and mortar bases where the terrorists directed fire towards Security Forces.”
The SLA admitted to losing 33 soldiers and claimed to have killed 150 Tigers. However the LTTE said it had lost 12 cadres and killed 78 SLA troops.
The SLA offensive was preceded by two days of intense shelling by artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRLs) forced civilians on both sides of the FDLs to flee.
SLA troops prevented the displaced people in Army controlled area from using the A9 highway and they had to trek through alternate routes and shrub land to arrive in the Vadamaradchi region further north.
Wounded SLA soldiers in more than five busses were rushed to the peninsula’s main airbase at Palaly and airlifted elsewhere for treatment. Artillery attacks by both sides ceased around noon as SLA forces were evacuating the wounded troopers.
This weekend the Sunday Island newspaper quoted official as saying that the military was preparing for new offensives against the LTTE.
Forces are being replenished on an urgent basis for this, a senior official told the paper. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said the forces “would go on the offensive to thwart LTTE aggression.”
The Island also quoted Sri Lankan ministerial sources as saying “troops would not give up territory they brought under their control consequent to operations conducted in Trincomalee and Jaffna districts. Ground forces would continue to strengthen their frontline positions with the air force poised to engage enemy positions.”
