Wanni an Army Graveyard

"Fighters from the Charles Anthony, Jeyanthan, Imran and Pandiyan special Infantry Brigades, Sothiya and Malathy Women’s Brigades, Kittu Artillery Unit, Kutty Sri Mortar Unit, Ponnammaan mines cops Units and snipers were combined in this operation. When Col. Lawrence, Northern front commanding officer engaging the 53 Division, Col. Laxman and Lt. Col Velawan were led the Killinochchi front. "

by Arush from Wales

(December 19, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Government is trying to push it elite troops around the Kilinochchi, but it is far from reached, and is in setback losing its well trained troops in continuing to fight mostly decisive battles in many fronts.

While the army amidst some heavy fighting in last week it is now raising a new fighting division (Task Force V) to put into battle in the coming days. It will be the army’s eighth division entering the battle during the Wanni operation. As it is placed under Col. Athula Galagamage, Lt. Col. Priyanka Fernando and Lt. Col. Ranjith Abeyratne have been appointed as its Brigade Commanders.

It was only in the beginning of this month that the Army raised its seventh division (Div.64 or Task Force IV). It is headed by Col. Nishantha Wanniarachchi is deployed in Mulaitivu along with 59 Division.

These events clearly show that the army is slowly trapping in a conventional warfare method, however, recent weeks the army was defeated in a conventional battle in several fronts, initiated by the military.

In the first instant, a heavy fighting broke out on Wednesday (10) as the Army advanced towards Killinochchi from several directions and the battle that continued for 24 hours. The heaviest fighting took place at Pudumuruppukulam, west of Killinochchi town.

The Air Force too engaged LTTE positions in support of the ground troops. But troops came under heavy machine gunfire from the LTTE holding entrenched positions on the earth bund. Using special operation tactics, the LTTE virtually cornered the Seventh Light Infantry regiment; it was led by Lt. Col. Ranjith Abeyratne with a heavy mortar fire.

The regiment lost 45 of its men as a result, including 12 men who fell into LTTE hands. Another 120 soldiers were injured. Intercepted army communications have also confirmed these heavy losses. But army officially admitted that the 23 killed and more than 60 wounded, in order to avoid demoralisation of their troops. But some sources in Wanni indicated that the army death toll in two days of fighting (Wednesday (10) and Thursday (11)) at 120 killed and 280 wounded. These attacks were directed by LTTE’s Special Leader of the Imran Pandiyan special force identified as Lt. Col. Velawan.

After this failed operation, Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets and assault choppers carried out more than dozen sorties in the south of Kilinochchi and West of Paranthan. Throughout the ceasefire, the air force has been building up its elite attack helicopter squadron (The 9th Attack Helicopter Squadron) which consist of Mi 24s and Mi 35s hind helicopters which are designed to give close air support for ground troops.

Then the Government claimed that the 57-4 Brigade led by Lt. Col. Senaka Wijesuriya was moved from Akkarayan to Therumurukandi, while Lt. Col. Priyantha Perera led 63-1 Brigade has advanced further east beyond Olumadu in the process of capturing Kuruppamaddimuruppu. Also 63-2 Brigade, which was moved towards Ampakamam,

But whatever the Government claims, the second bloody battles broke up south of Ki'laali and west of Killinochchi on Tuesday (16) as the LTTE offered stiff resistance to the troops pushing into the further south. According to reports from the battlefront, troops beefed up operations now when bad weather conditions temporarily improved.

On last week, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera and Army Commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka, who visited Wanni Command Headquarters and assessed the ground situation with Wanni Commander Maj. Gen Jagath Jayasuriya and other top brass. Then they visited Jaffna and met with Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen G.A. Chandrasiri and also assessed the ground situation with field commanders.

After these visits the kilaali and Kilinochchi multi - front operation plans were executed, by two Brigades (53-1 and 53-2) of the 53 Division headed by Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne in Kilali front, three brigades (57-1, 57-2 and 57-3) of the 57 division headed by Maj. Gen Jegath dias in Malayaa'lapuram, Mu'rika'ndi, Pulikku'lam and Iranamadu fronts and Similarly Brig. Shavendra Silva led 58 Division advanced along the Pooneryn-Paranthan road (Kugnchupparanthan) with the Fifth Armoured Corp and the infantry regiments operating under this Division. Three frontline assault divisions (53, 57 and 58) were handpicked for this latest operation.

The elite 53 Division consisting of 53-1 air mobile brigade, the 53-2 independent brigade of Special Forces commandos, 53-3 of special armour (now it is an independent brigade) and the infantry of 53-4. The military objectives were ultimately to open a door to recapture the Elephant pass military complex—a key strategic position at the gateway to the Jaffna peninsula which the military lost in April 2000 and proceeding to Killinochchi.

It was past midnight, at around 1:30 a.m., that the military operation commenced in Kilaali front. It was initially a night (stealth) operation. Jaffna SF Commander General Chandrasiri was in touch with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Division, Brigadier Kamal Gunaratne, who was led the Kilaali front.

Infantry from 5 GW, 1 VIR and 6 GR of the Air Mobile Brigade (AMB) of the 53 Division, were move out of their FDLs in Kilaali, to launch this surprise attack but waves of troop attacks were beaten back by LTTE infantry men. Several soldiers were killed in the bunkers and trenches along this line. The LTTE used mortars, mines and snipers in many places to cause damage. Troops who stepped on Johnny mines, not only lost their legs, but the action sparked off claymore mines and 60mm motor shells. Improvised Explosive Devices were also used by the LTTE, who had dug up trenches and pits to trap troops.

From around 9.30 a.m., the 53 Division began withdrawing. By 10:30 a.m., the soldiers had gone back to their original positions. Learning from the lessons following the past misadventures at Muhamalai and Kilaali in last couple of years, the army is keen to keep the death toll and casualty figures as low as possible and withdrew as quickly as possible.

More than 40 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and at least 160 soldiers wounded when the LTTE repulsed an offensive, LTTE officials said, they seized vast quantity of arms and recovered dead bodies of the SLA. The SLA has admitted that 25 soldiers were killed, 10 soldiers were missing and around 160 soldiers sustained injuries in the fighting on Tuesday explaining that they made a 'tactical withdrawal' in Ki'laali.

Sources in Jaffna said that the SLAF helicopters were seen engaged in transporting casualties and injured soldiers while Kandy road and Palaali road were blocked several times during the day enabling ambulances to carry the dead and injured to Palaali hospital.

The SLA directed artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on LTTE territory. The LTTE counter artillery barrage hit Mirusuvil and Usan army rear bases. The attackers had been further handicapped army to evacuate their injured soldiers.

While these waves of attacks were taking place, other two divisions were started their push in Killinochchi front. The most decisive battle for Paranthan and Kilinochchi has been commenced around 5.30am on Tuesday. The 57 and 58 Divisions launched a simultaneous attack on the "L" shaped 6 km long bund surrounding Paranthan and Pooneryn. While SLA used artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire to neutralize LTTE counter attacks the 57 Division took heavy beat.

The Air Force too engaged LTTE positions in support of the ground troops. Using the familiarity of the ground to their advantage, the LTTE virtually cornered the Infantry battalions with a heavy rain of mortar and artillery fire. Troops from SLSR CLI, GW and GR were beaten back.

The LTTE officials in Wanni said that 130 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed in the multi-front offensive push by the SLA in Ki'linochchi on Tuesday. More than 300 soldiers were wounded in the heavy battle that raged throughout the day till 4:00 p.m. on four main localities and along a wide stretch of the Ki'linochchi frontiers.

36 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers have been recovered so far, 28 in Ki'linochchi and 8 in Ki'liaali, in the clearing missions following Tuesday's fighting. 10 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers were recovered by the Tigers Tuesday evening. 8 more bodies were recovered later and 10 further recovered Wednesday. There were more dead bodies lying between the LTTE and SLA defence lines, according to the reports from Wanni.

Interestingly, photographs of the dead bodies of the Sri Lankan soldiers, recovered by the LTTE, has exposed that the Colombo is using Sinhalese child soldier in its offensive front in Wanni. This is clearly indicated that the army has faced lack of man power to holding its positions. The Tigers have seized several weapons in the clearing mission.

The security forces airlifted casualties by helicopter from Kilaali to Palaly and Killinochchi to Vavunia and Mannar. Casualties were also transported by roads as well. According to information received by this column, injured soldiers are being treated at Palaly, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Polanaruwa, Trinco and Colombo hospitals.

Intercepted army transmissions have revealed that troops have faced problems over evacuating the wounded due to heavy motor fire and booby traps. The danger of anti personnel mines and booby traps which were displaced from their original positions in recent days have further complicated the ground situation. For an example deputy commander of the 20th Sinha Regiment belonging to 63-2 Brigade Maj. Priyantha Liyanage was stepped on a Johnny anti-personnel mine in Olumadu area and lost a leg.

While main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles continued to provide support to the evacuation mission, there is a possibility for Victor Anti -Tank Regiment will be step up its counter offensive soon.

The figures according to army, they lost around 100 soldiers in Kilinochchi and Paranthan fighting, 80 soldiers were killed and another 24 have gone missing. Total SLA casualty figures in Ki'linochchi and Jaffna frontiers for the past two days stand at around 145 soldiers killed and further 300 being wounded and most of them requiring emergency amputations, altogether 42 were declared MIA.

When 12 SLSR suffered heavy casualties in the Ki'linochchi front 6GR suffered badly in the Kilaali front. Circles close to the Defence Ministry told casualty figures that much higher than official version. Bulk of the SLA casualties on Kilali operation were caused by artillery fire which rained on advancing troops. On Paranthan and Kilinochchi fronts however, close quarters fighting caused heavy damage. When troops retreated to base, the LTTE fired 81 mm, Samathnam and 120 mm mortars at them.

Fighters from the Charles Anthony, Jeyanthan, Imran and Pandiyan special Infantry Brigades, Sothiya and Malathy Women’s Brigades, Kittu Artillery Unit, Kutty Sri Mortar Unit, Ponnammaan mines cops Units and snipers were combined in this operation. When Col. Lawrence, Northern front commanding officer engaging the 53 Division, Col. Laxman and Lt. Col Velawan were led the Killinochchi front.

The Overall operation was coordinated by Col. Theepan, who is now appointed as a special counter operation commander of the overall Wanni operation. Now he had developed its own counter battle plans to beat back the forces in the event of an operation. The truth is there was a better coordination and the support of the indirect fire was obtained. The Ponnammaan Mines Corps of the LTTE had set up its mines and booby traps in key locations. They began to take a toll in several fronts. Three frontline divisions suffered heavy losses.

In the battle plans, it appears that the army did not anticipate such a counter offensive strategy by the LTTE. This operation was the first in which so the military had lost multi-front task within 48 hours. Battle plans are usually drawn up for military advantage and that should be the only consideration. But in Sri Lanka, they are drawn up for political advantage. It appears the operation was conducted in a hurry before the end of this year. The entire operation was well-planned on paper but it was the implementation that went wrong.

After these latest failed offensive, Air Force fighter jets and MI-24 helicopters stepped up aerial attacks on the Kilinochchi town and its suburbs, they carried out at least five air raids since at 7.30 am on Wednesday, A 5-month-old child and a 25-year-old male were killed and 13 other displaced civilians including three children were wounded in this attack. The government said, the jets were raided the LTTE installations but it is not true.

Then again the heaviest fighting took place at Pudumurippu, west of Killinochchi town on Wednesday (17). The LTTE officials said that they seized vast quantity of arms and recovered 12 dead bodies of the SLA. According to the latest information, total SLA casualty figures in Ki'linochchi and Jaffna frontiers for the past two days stand at around 165 soldiers killed and further 470 being wounded and 38 bodies were recovered.

But government systematically concealed the war casualties from the battle fronts. The scale of this propaganda has been so great that many people in the south have been taken in and believed that ‘victory’ over the LTTE was imminent. This focus about winning the war instilled buoyancy in the public mood, which has helped the Rajapaksa regime to help contain resentment over the rising cost of living, inflation, economic disastrous, corruption, mismanagement, etc.

Apart from this, the government has the additional advantage of enhance its political image. But, it was too obvious that the whole affair could not be concealed. The Tamil international websites posted pictures of security forces personnel bodies, guns and other military equipment left behind.

From previous operations, the army learnt it the hard way. Battalions of infantrymen advancing into LTTE-held territory could be disastrous. Hence, a different strategy of small groups of elite forces is using now. But, in the southern neck of the peninsula and Killinochchi fronts, this tactics could be also a graveyard for Sinhala youths, which was proved in this week.

The Sinhala people of this country have been the targets of a sustained propaganda barrage claiming that everything was hunky-dory for the regime in the ongoing war against the LTTE. But the recent battle shows that it is a bubble and it will burst in any time. The Sinhala people need to be Pay attention regarding the government false propaganda or Pay the price. - Sri Lanka Guardian