Eelam War III

Third phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, from 1995 to 2002

Main article: Sri Lankan civil war

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Eelam War III

Part of the Sri Lankan Civil War
| Date| 19 April 1995 – 22 February 2002

|

Location|

Sri Lanka

Result|  Cease fire
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam tactical victory[1]
Belligerents

Sri Lanka

* Military of Sri Lanka

|  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994–2005)|  Velupillai Prabhakaran
Units involved

Sri Lanka Armed Forces

*     * Sri Lanka Army
* Sri Lanka Navy
* Sri Lanka Air Force

|  Unknown
Strength
130,000|  13,500
Casualties and losses
10,838|  2,746

* v
* t
* e

Eelam War III

* Sooraya and Ranasuru
* Weli Oya (1995)
* Jaffna (1995)
* Riviresa
* Mullaitivu (1996)
* Sath Jaya
* Edibala
* Pulukunawa
* Vavunathivu
* Jayasikurui (Thandikulam–Omanthai, Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997))
* Rivi bala
* Kilinochchi (1998)
* Rana Gosa
* Oddusuddan
* Kinihira
* A-9 highway
* 2nd Elephant Pass
* Rivikirana
* Bandaranaike

* v
* t
* e

Sri Lankan civil war

Main topics

* Eelam War I
* Indian intervention
* Eelam War II
* Eelam War III
* Eelam War IV
* Battles and operations
* Bombings and terrorist attacks
* Other military attacks

* * *

Mass graves

* Chemmani
* Duraiappa
* Mirusuvil
* Sooriyakanda

* * *

Massacres

* Black July
* Kokkilai massacre
* 1985 Valvettiturai
* Kumudini
* Akkaraipattu
* Prawn farm
* Eastern University
* 1990 Batticaloa
* Massacre of policemen
* 1991 Kokkadichcholai
* Air Lanka Flight 512
* Jaffna lagoon
* Aluth Oya massacre
* Navaly
* Nagerkovil-Allaipiddy
* Vankalai
* Central Bus Station bombing
* Muttur
* Kent and Dollar Farm
* Anuradhapura
* Aranthalawa
* Kattankudi mosque
* Palliyagodella
* Lionair Flight 602
* Kallarawa
* October 1995
* Gonagala
* Kebithigollewa
* Jaffna Hospital
* Central Bank bombing
* Dehiwala train bombing
* 1989 Valvettiturai
* Habarana massacre

* v
* t
* e

Eelam War I

* Kokkilai
* Vadamarachchi
* Operation Poomalai
* Nelliady

* v
* t
* e

Indian intervention in the
Sri Lankan civil war

* Poomalai
* Pawan
* Trishul
* Viraat
* Checkmate
* Jaffna University Helidrop

* v
* t
* e

Eelam War II

* Kokavil
* Sea Breeze
* Thrividha Balaya
* Elephant Pass
* Balavegaya
* Sathbala
* Balavegaya II
* Janakapura
* Pooneryn

* v
* t
* e

Eelam War III

* Sooraya and Ranasuru
* Weli Oya (1995)
* Jaffna (1995)
* Riviresa
* Mullaitivu (1996)
* Sath Jaya
* Edibala
* Pulukunawa
* Vavunathivu
* Jayasikurui (Thandikulam–Omanthai, Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997))
* Rivi bala
* Kilinochchi (1998)
* Rana Gosa
* Oddusuddan
* Kinihira
* A-9 highway
* 2nd Elephant Pass
* Rivikirana
* Bandaranaike

* v
* t
* e

Eelam War IV

Eastern Theatre of Eelam War IV
Sampur
December 2006
Definite Victory

Vakarai
Thoppigala

Northern Theatre of Eelam War IV
Jaffna
Silavathurai
2008-2009 offensive

Welioya
Vavuniya
Kallarawa
Madhu
Adampan
Vidattaltivu
Kilinochchi
Paranthan
Mullaitivu
Chalai
Puthukkudiyirippu
Vellamullivaikkal

Other
1st Point Pedro
Galle
2nd Point Pedro
Palali raid
Colombo raids
Anuradhapura
Delft
Coast of Jaffna
Naval anti arms smuggling operations

Eelam War III is the name given to the third phase of armed conflict between the Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

After the period of 100 days cease-fire the hostilities broke out on 19 April 1995. The LTTE - Sea Tigers planted explosives in two gun boats known as SLNS 'Sooraya' and 'Ranasuru', and blew them up.

Also, a new weapon "Stinger", a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile was used in this conflict by the LTTE. This was used to take down two Sri Lankan Air Force AVRO aircraft flying over the Jaffna peninsula.

Eelam War III also marked the rising success of the LTTE, as they managed to capture key districts such as Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, and took over the Elephant Pass base. With the path clear towards the Muhumalai and Nagarkovil FDLs, the LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves IV in efforts to capture the Jaffna peninsula.

By the end of Eelam War III, the LTTE had control of nearly 30% of the entire island.

## Major military operations (in chronological order)

[edit]

Main article: Bombing of SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Ranasuru

* 19 April, 1995: The LTTE sinks SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Ranasuru ending peace talks.

Main article: Battle of Mandaitivu

* 28 June, 1995: The LTTE overruns the Sri Lankan military base at Mandaitivu.

Main article: Battle of Weli Oya (1995)

* 28 July, 1995: The LTTE attack the Sri Lankan military base at Weli Oya and is repulsed with heavy loses.

Main article: Operation Riviresa

* 17 October - 5 December, 1995 : Government launches Operation Riviresa -recapturing the Jaffna peninsular from the LTTE.

Main article: Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)

* 18 July, 1996 : The LTTE overruns the Sri Lankan military base at Mullaitivu, the attack carried out after midnight. The number of killed in action and missing in action were around 1600 as per military sources. There were more than 4000 LTTE cadre's participated the attack and captured large quantity of arms and military equipment. The base was used as Sri Lanka Army's 215 Brigade Headquarters. One of the major encounters broke out between the LTTE and the Special Forces (SF) commando reinforcements Lt. Col. Laphir and 36 others were killed and 60 more were wounded. Sri Lanka Air-force pilots landed the second batch of Commando's in the same location and also taken the dead body of Lt. Col.Laphir by rope pulled down from the helicopter under heavy LTTE gunfire. The code name given by the LTTE "Oyatha Alaikal" (Endless Waves) to attack the Mullaitivu Military base and SLA code was named as "Operation Thrivida Pahara" for the rescue mission.

Main article: Operation Sath Jaya

* 26 July-3 October, 1996: SLA launched Operation Sathjaya to capture Kilinochchi from LTTE. After 70 days of siege Army finally captured Kilinochchi

Main article: Battle of Pulukunawa

* 11 December, 1996: LTTE militants numbering over 500 cadres began their attack on the STF detachment.

Main article: Battle of Vavunathivu

* 7March, 1997: LTTE militants attacked and overran the SLA military camp at Vavunathivu off Batticaloa.

Main article: Thandikulam-Omanthai offensive

* Thandikulam-Omanthi offensive 10 June - 25 June, 1997:The Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive was a battle for the control of the towns of Thandikulam and Omanthai in Sri Lanka in June 1997

Main article: Operation Jayasikurui

* Operation Jayasikurui (1997-1998): In May 1997 SLA launched Operation Jayasikurui (Sure Victory) to open land route to Jaffna Peninsula. The main objective of the operation was to liberate A9 Highway from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi. The total distance was approximately 70 km. Army abandoned this operation after 18 months without achieving its main goal.

Main article: Battle of Kilinochchi (1998)

* Operation Unceasing Waves II: LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves II also known as 1998 Battle of Kilinochchi. . LTTE recaptured Kilinochchi town from Army after 3 days of intense battle.

Main article: Operation Rana Gosa

* Operation Rana Gosa (Battle cry): It was carried out in 4 phases. Army captured more than 500sq.km. of LTTE territory in Vanni (Sri Lanka).

* Operation Rivibala: It was a secret operation launched by Army to capture Oddusuddan. It was an important LTTE base near LTTE's stronghold Mullaitivu.

Main article: Oddusuddan offensive (1999)

* Operation Unceasing Waves III: LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves III on the first week of November 1999. On first day LTTE began Oddusuddan offensive (1999). After capturing the base they attacked Kanakarayankulam Army HQ. After the fall of the base LTTE recaptured most part of Vanni .
* Second Battle of Elephant Pass: LTTE after liberating Vanni launched their attack to liberate Jaffna Peninsula. Known as Second Battle of Elephant Pass LTTE stepped up operation inside Jaffna Peninsula. Under the leadership of Brig. Balraj LTTE launched SL Civil War's largest behind enemy line operation. After 34 days long battle Elephant Pass base fell to Tamil Tigers.

Main article: Battle for the A-9 highway

* The Battle for the A-9 highway :The battle was fought in March and April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan A-9 highway
* Operation Unceasing Waves IV: On 26 September 2000 LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves IV. The objective of the operation was to capture Jaffna.
* LTTE's Unilateral ceasefire: On 24 December 2000 LTTE declared Unilateral ceasefire. It was ended on 24 April 2001.

Main article: Bandaranaike Airport attack

* 24 July, 2001:The attack was one of the boldest the LTTE mounted during its war with the Sri Lankan government, and had a profound impact on the country's military, economy, and airline industry.

Main article: Muhamalai Forward Defence Line

* Operation Agni keela: Army launched Operation Agnikeela on 25 April 2001within few hours after LTTE ended their unilateral ceasefire. Its main objective was to retake Elephant Pass Garrison which they lost to LTTE one year back. LTTE had Booby trap whole paths and effectively positioned their artillery and mortar units. Due to heavy casualties, the army abandoned the operation.

* 2002 Peace Process: After few rounds of talks Sri Lankan Government and LTTE signed permanent ceasefire on 22 February 2002. Thus Eelam War III came to an end.

## Civilian killings

[edit]

### Kallarawa massacre

[edit]

Main article: Kallarawa massacre

The Kallarawa massacre is an incident on May 25, 1995, during which LTTE cadres massacred 42 Sinhalese men, women and children in Kallarawa.[2] All the remaining civilian survivors fled the village after this incident leading to its depopulation.[3] However survivors from the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities have returned to Kallarawa under the protection of the Sri Lankan Army.[3]

### Navaly church bombing

[edit]

Main article: Navaly church bombing

On 9 July 1995, the Sri Lankan Air Force using the Pucará aircraft dropped 8 to 13 bombs around the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the Sri Kathirkama Murugan Hindu Temple and in surrounding residential areas of Navaly in the Jaffna Peninsula. It is estimated that at least 147 Tamil civilians who had taken refuge from the war inside the church as instructed by the government died as a result of the bombings and many more were injured.[4][5][6]

### Kumarapuram massacre

[edit]

Main article: Kumarapuram massacre

On February 11, 1996, the Sri Lankan Army soldiers massacred 26 Sri Lankan Tamil civilians in the village called Kumarapuram located in the Trincomalee district.[7][8] According to several survivors interviewed by Amnesty International, 13 women and 7 children below the age of 12, were killed by soldiers from the 58th mile post and Dehiwatte army camps.[9] Among the victims was a 15-year-old girl who was gang-raped before being shot dead.[10][9] Among the villagers who survived the massacre were 28 individuals who were severely injured and they stated that the soldiers had attacked them with axes. Children as young as 3 and 6 years of age had axe injuries on their face.[11]

### Gonagala massacre

[edit]

Main article: Gonagala massacre

The Gonagala Massacre was a massacre that occurred on September 18, 1999, in the small village of Gonagala, located in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka. According to reports, over 50 men, women and children were hacked to death in the middle of the night. The massacre is attributed to the LTTE, which is banned as a terrorist organization by a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India and the European Union.

The Gonagala massacre is one of several such attacks believed to have been carried out by the LTTE. However these murders gained notoriety because, unlike previous attacks, most of the LTTE cadres who took part in it were women. According to survivors, there was a significant presence of female cadres among the 75 LTTE cadres who took part in the killings

## Controversy over the Army's handling of its casualties and their families

[edit]

In August 2001, S. P. Thamilselvan, the leader of the political wing of the Tamil Tigers, accused the Sri Lankan Army of intentionally abandoning the bodies of nearly a thousand soldiers on the battlefields since May, despite the Tamils’ request that the Red Cross act as an intermediate.[12] He told visiting relatives of missing servicemen that the military had only accepted 55 bodies to return to their families, while burying the rest with full military honors on the spot. Thamilselvan did not offer a reason for the army's refusal, but did note that several hundred decomposing bodies remained in a minefield due to the danger of extracting them. A Sri Lankan military spokesman, Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne, acknowledged that the army cannot always retrieve a body because it might cost more lives, but denied the Tamil accusations, saying they were propaganda aimed at demoralizing the parents of the missing soldiers.

However, this was not the first time issues had arisen over reclamation of soldiers’ remains and the Army's responsiveness to the requests of families of missing soldiers for information regarding their fate. In April 2003, a group of parents of some of the 619 soldiers reported missing from a battle fought 27 September 1998 obtained permission from the LTTE to travel to the battle site. The families’ previous inquiries at the Defense Ministry, the Sri Lankan Army, and the International Committee of the Red Cross for information on their sons’ fates had been fruitless. At the battlefield they learned that some 500 bodies had been piled together, doused with kerosene, and burnt on the spot by the Sri Lankan Army. Upon their return, a lawsuit was filed on the families’ behalf requesting a mass funeral and DNA testing so Buddhist, Muslim and Christian families could collect their sons’ remains and give them proper burials. The Ministry of Defence organized funeral in 2006, but declined to perform the requested DNA testing.[13]

## Killing of prisoners by the LTTE

[edit]

Although it had stated that it abides by the Third Geneva Convention for the treatment of prisoners of war, it has been accused of mass execution and torture of captured soldiers in the Battle of Mullaitivu and in the Battle of Vavunathivu.[14][15][16]

## See also

[edit]

* Phases of the Sri Lankan Civil War
* Eelam War I
* Eelam War II
* Eelam War IV
* Sri Lankan Civil War

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Tamil Tigers inflicted heavier casualties to the Sri Lankan Army despite being outnumbered 10 times. They also conquered large chunks of territory in 2000-2002.
2. ^ "Sri Lanka Human Rights Practices, 1995". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 24 September 2003.
3. ^ a b Ltd., Information Laboratories (Pvt.). "The Sunday Times News and Comments". sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
4. ^ "Navaly Church Bombing – 25 Years On". Groundviews. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
5. ^ 1995 Human Rights report – South Asia Archived 20 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ Somasundaram, D. (1997). "Abandoning Jaffna hospital: Ethical and moral dilemmas". Medicine, Conflict and Survival. 13 (4): 333–347\. doi:10.1080/13623699708409357.
7. ^ "Impunity Reigns in Sri Lanka: The Kumarapuram Massacre and Acquittals" (PDF). People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL). 20 March 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
8. ^ "Sri Lanka: President urged to retry acquitted suspects in Tamil massacre". Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS). 30 July 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
9. ^ a b "Sri Lanka: Wavering commitment to human rights". Amnesty International. 13 August 1996.
10. ^ "Impunity Reigns in Sri Lanka: The Kumarapuram Massacre and Acquittals" (PDF). People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL). 20 March 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
11. ^ "Trincomalee District in February 1996: Focusing on the Killiveddy Massacre". UTHRJ. 2 March 1996. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
12. ^ "Dead Sri Lankan soldiers 'abandoned'". 16 August 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2018 - via news.bbc.co.uk.
13. ^ Boustany, Nora (19 April 2006). "Nora Boustany - Sri Lankan Steers Parents to Peace After Loss in War". Retrieved 16 April 2018 - via www.washingtonpost.com.
14. ^ "The Sunday Times Situation Report". sundaytimes.lk.
15. ^ "Account Suspended". crimesofwar.org. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008.
16. ^ Taraki (9 March 1997). "Forward march: many more miles to go yet". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 October 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka
* GoSL Peace Secretariat
* LTTE Peace Secretariat
* Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
* Lanka Academic, news site sponsored by Sri Lankan academics worldwide
* Sangam.org
* Texts of key agreements in the peace process and an analysis of the process by Conciliation Resources
* Report on the Sri Lankan peace process by Asiafoundation
* hWeb - Sri Lanka’s recent history of ethnic conflict and political crisis originates from its colonial legacy
* NorthEast Secretariat report on Human rights 1974-2004[permanent dead link]
* hWeb - Sri Lanka’s recent history of ethnic conflict originates from its colonial legacy
* Peace&War: Humanity Ashore Pictorial
* Sri Lanka's Profile Timeline

* v
* t
* e

Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009)

Origins|

* Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism
* Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism
* Sinhala Only Act
* 1956
* 1958
* Vaddukoddai Resolution
* 1977
* 1981
* Burning of Jaffna Library
* Black July

Combatants|

|  Sri Lanka|

* Army (LRRP)
* Navy
* Air Force
* Police
* Special Task Force
* Home Guards
* Attacks on civilians
* Assassinations

|

LTTE|

* Divisions
* Air Tigers
* Sea Tigers
* Black Tigers
* Attacks
* in the 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* Assassinations
* Suicide bombings

Other militants (list)|

* ENDLF
* ENLF
* EPRLF
* EROS
* PLOTE
* TELO

India|

* Indian Peace Keeping Force

Paramilitary groups|

* EPDP
* TMVP

Phases|

* Eelam War I
* Indian intervention
* Eelam War II
* III
* IV
* Eastern / Northern theatres

Major battles|

* Kokkilai
* Vadamarachchi
* Poomalai
* Pawan
* Jaffna University Helidrop
* Balavegaya
* 1st Elephant Pass
* Pooneryn
* Riviresa
* 1st Mullaitivu
* Weli Oya
* Sath Jaya
* Vavunathivu
* Jayasikurui
* Thandikulam–Omanthai
* 1st Kilinochchi
* Oddusuddan
* A-9 highway
* 2nd Elephant Pass
* Bandaranaike Airport attack
* Point Pedro
* Jaffna
* Thoppigala
* Vidattaltivu
* 2nd Kilinochchi
* 2nd Mullaitivu
* Puthukkudiyirippu

Major events|

* Air Lanka Flight 512
* Indo-Sri Lanka Accord
* Expulsions from Northern province
* Assassination of Lalith Athulathmudali
* Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
* Assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa
* Temple of the Tooth attack
* Lionair Flight 602
* Bandaranaike Airport attack
* Expulsions from Colombo
* 2009 suicide air raid on Colombo

Leaders|

| Sri Lanka|

| Military|

| Army|

* Tissa Weeratunga
* Nalin Seneviratne
* Hamilton Wanasinghe
* Cecil Waidyaratne
* G. H. De Silva
* Rohan Daluwatte
* Srilal Weerasooriya
* L. P. Balagalle
* Shantha Kottegoda
* Sarath Fonseka

|

Navy|

* Asoka de Silva
* H. A. Silva
* Clancy Fernando
* D. A. M. R. Samarasekara
* H. C. A. C. Thisera
* Daya Sandagiri
* Wasantha Karannagoda

Air Force|

* Dick Perera
* Andibuduge Fernando
* Makalandage Gunawardena
* Oliver Ranasinghe
* Jayalath Weerakkody
* Donald Perera
* Roshan Goonetileke

Civilian|

* J. R. Jayewardene
* Ranasinghe Premadasa
* Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
* Chandrika Kumaratunga
* Mahinda Rajapaksa

LTTE|

| Militant|

* Velupillai Prabhakaran
* Pottu Amman
* Soosai
* Karuna Amman

|

Political|

* Selvarasa Pathmanathan
* Anton Balasingham
* S. P. Thamilselvan

India|

| Military|

* Harkirat Singh
* Ashok K. Mehta
* Kulwant Singh
* Depinder Singh
* Dalvir Singh
* Krishnaswamy Sundarji

|

Civilian|

* R. Venkataraman
* Rajiv Gandhi
* V. P. Singh
* Jyotindra Nath Dixit
* J. Jayalalithaa
* M. Karunanidhi
* Vaiko

Aftermath|

* Genocide
* Films
* NPC resolution
* LLRC
* Reactions (Protests)
* Remembrance Day
* UN Panel on Accountability
* War crimes
* Chemical weapons

Related topics|

* Casualties
* Assassinations
* Massacres
* Child soldiers
* Disappearances
* Office on Missing Persons
* Human rights
* Popular culture
* Terrorism
* Non-state
* State
* PTA
* Sexual violence
* Sixth Amendment
* Thirteenth Amendment
* Women
* 1988 Maldives coup attempt
* 1987–1989 JVP insurrection

* Sri Lankan civil war at Wiktionary
* Source texts at Wikisource
* Textbooks at Wikibooks
* Images and media at the Commons
* Quotations at Wikiquote
* News stories at Wikinews

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