Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have announced an 8 day unilateral ceasefire during the SAARC summit 2008. The full statement including Pro LTTE media comments can be found here (If you are accessing Internet from Sri Lanka, click here).
Strangely enough, LTTE's latest move comes in after a series of defeats suffered at the hands of armed forces in the Wanni theatre of battle.
LTTE cadres fleeing further north after the fall of their base in Illuppaikadavai were attacked by a group of army commandos in Murunkalayadippudi yesterday evening. 13 LTTE cadres have been killed in this incident. Murunkalayadippudi is located around 3km north of Illuppaikadavai along the A-32 road.
After the capture of Illuppaikadavai yesterday, forces have uncovered an underground bunker complex in the LTTE base. Base buildings were well constructed and it is assumed that 100-150 LTTE cadres were stationed there when it was fully operational. Troops have so far recovered 13 bodies of LTTE cadres who perished in battles in this region.
It was only two days ago the troops uncovered an underwater jetty in recently captured Viduthalaithiv sea tiger base south of Illuppaikadavai. The 150m long jetty could have easily concealed more than 100 small sea tigers boats anchored there.
Sri Lanka Army's 58 division and the Commando regiment brought the town of Illuppaikadavai under their control today (20th) after a prolonged firefight with LTTE cadres in the region. Illuppaikadavai housed a large LTTE base which was used for multiple purposes by the tigers including land and sea operations. Regular infantry units from the 58 division as well as small groups of army commandos had surrounded the area by yesterday and moved ahead of their positions early morning today. LTTE retreated further north after suffering casualties at the hands of advancing forces. Illuppaikadavai is located around 10km north of Viduthalaithiv, where the tigers lost control of a major sea tiger base recently.
As we reported earlier, the Air Force has been continuously targeting LTTE cadres who retreated from Viduthalaithiv. A sea tiger boat movement was attacked by SLN patrol craft and by SLAF bombers today evening just 3km south of Nachchikuda. 3 boats were confirmed to be destroyed while another 3 more are believed to be damaged. Nachchikuda, where LTTE maintains another sea tiger base, is located a further 15kms north of Illuppaikadavai. It is believed that a large number of LTTE cadres who fled Viduthalaithiv are currently stationed in this base. It can be assumed that the 58 division will soon lay siege this base, considering the fact that they have already advanced two more kilometers north after the capture of Illuppaikadavai.
After the army's capture of Viduthalaithiv sea tiger base on early morning last Wednesday (16th), LTTE activity further north of the base has increased. This is due to the fact that some of the LTTE cadres who were manning the base fled in the face of the army advance along with some of the hardware on the base. Around 30 LTTE cadres are believed to have been killed in the battle during which the army took control of a well fortified 2km long defence line in close proximity of the base. Exact number of LTTE casualties are not known. The rest of the LTTE cadres manning the base have fled further towards the north along with some of the military hardware (while leaving behind some) in the base.
Image: Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army after the capture of Viduthalaithiv. One of the boats left behind by the tigers can also been seen. Source : www.army.lk
The air force has been actively targeting the cadres who managed to escape and who are now trying to station themselves further north of Viduthalaithiv. On the 16th, Mi-24 helicopter gunships attacked two boats around 5km north of the base. On the same day, SLAF's bombers attacked a medium sized sea tiger base some 40km north of Viduthalaithiv. On yesterday (17th), Mi-24s attacked another LTTE regrouping attempt in Iluppaikkadavai which is located 5km north of the fallen base.
The army will maintain a permanent presence in Viduthaliathivu due to its strategic importance in the defence of the western coastline of the island. Naval Commandos of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) along with other regular and elite infantry units of the army will most likely be stationed there once ongoing search operations in the area are completed.
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) 's 58 division has been able to take control of the Viduthalaithiv town as of today (16th). LTTE maintained a major sea tiger base in the area which plays a vital role in providing supplies to the organization. In addition to its role as a logistics base, Viduthalaithiv has been the launching pad for several sea tiger raids on naval outposts recently.
According to military intelligence, the LTTE have moved some of their hardware and personnel further northwards, deep into LTTE held territory. The base has been under siege for days, both by regular infantry units of the 58 division as well as by squads of commandos.
Viduthalaithiv, located 20km north of Mannar, has been under LTTE control for nearly 19 years.
A special security plan will be launched to ensure protection of 3 VIPs whose lives are threatened by terrorist attacks as per intelligence information. These VIPs are due to arrive in Sri Lanka for the SAARC summit that is to be held later this month. The special security program will include defenses for terrorist attacks from air and land as well as monitoring suspicious activity using advanced surveillance equipment.
In addition to the security plan launched by Sri Lankan forces, the respective VIPs will also bring their own security personnel. For example the Indian prime minister will be accompanied by the National Security Guards (Aka Blackcats). In addition to ground troops, several helicopters of the Indian Air Force will also be part of the air defence system during the SAARC summit. At least 3 ships of the Indian Navy are also deployed in the seas off Sri Lanka during this time.
Meanwhile the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are facing increased pressure from the armed forces in Mannar front. One of their major sea tiger bases in Viduthalaithiv is now under siege by the army's 58 division. In addition to the regular infantry units of the 58 division, several squads of the Commando regiment are also deployed in this area. It was only 5 days ago that 12 personnel from the Bravo Squad of 2nd commando regiment infiltrated the southern defence line of Viduthalaithiv and killed 27 LTTE cadres. More than 150 experienced cadres from LTTE's battled hardened brigades were called in by LTTE's Mannar commander Lakshman, to repel the Commando raid. Sgt A. Kumara and Corporal N. Wanasinghe who lead two of the three 4-man teams into battle were killed in action during the 6 hour firefight that ensued. The LTTE has further reinforced its defences around Viduthalaithiv after this incident.
A public transport bus was attacked in Buttala - Kataragama road today killing at least 3 people and injuring 15 more. The bus was en route to Kataragama from Monaragala when it was attacked.
LTTE activity in this region has gradually increased over the last year.
Update: 4 killed and 25 injured
203 Sri Lanka Army soldiers who completed training in the commando training center in Kuda Oya graduated today (7th). Revamped commando training now includes training in deep battle space operations in addition to the regular courses. The new additions to the commando regiment comes at a time when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is locked in a full scale war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
In the past, army's elite troops in Commando and SF were used extensively to carry out special operations and deep battle space. The situation now has somewhat changed with even regular infantry units (specially in 57, 58 and 59 divisions) receiving specialized training and thus obtaining the capability to successfully carry our special operations.
In addition to the Commandos , there are around 2500 special forces (SF) in the army as well as around 7000 Special Task Force (STF) personnel in the police.
A Mig27 jet bomber of SLAF's 5th Jet Squadron skidded off the runway at Katunayake while landing after an air raid on a known LTTE position. The exact amount of damage caused to the aircraft in this incident is still being assessed.
Meanwhile the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) marked the 21st anniversary of their first suicide bombing today. The first ever suicide bombing of the LTTE was carried out by 'Captain' Miller (Valipuram Vasanthan) on 5th of July 1987, when he rammed an explosive laden truck into the Sri Lanka Army base in Nellyadi. 39 SLA soldiers perished in this attack. Since then the tigers have been carrying out frequent suicide bombings in both civilian and military targets alike. According to LTTE released figures, 356 cadres have committed suicide for the organization.
A VVIP transport helicopter (Bell 412) was forced to perform an emergency landing in Ampara today, when it ran out of fuel in mid air. The unexpected fuel loss was caused by a bullet that is suspected to have been fired using a low caliber weapon. The damaged aircraft is said to be in repairable condition. The chopper was assigned to facilitate VVIP transport related to the President's visit to Arugam Bay in the Eastern province.
Meanwhile 8 bombers of the SLAF launched an air attack on a special training base of the LTTE north east of Mankulam. The raid was conducted at 6am in the morning. Casualty details are not available as of now.
In other news, the Air Force has flown several night time missions using its bombers during the past 2 weeks. The bombers flew over Kilinochchci, the de facto capital of LTTE, at least 3 times but did not engage in any bombing raids.
