Truth About Muhamalai II

The Sri Lanka Army lost 20 men and over 100 others were injured while attempting to breach the LTTE Forward Defence Line at Kilali. 15 LTTE have also been killed. The thrust made by the 55th Division came from Kilali and Muhamalai SLA FDLs. It was unfortunately boxed-in and attacked by the LTTE, which, according to Field Commanders looked like a well rehearsed and prepared strategy following information leaks of an impending advance from that sector. However, contrary to Pro-LTTE media this was not a major military operation and was a limited operation to neutralize the offensive formations of the LTTE along the lagoon. Not a single man was left behind by troops whose objective was never to hold the ground in either case. No Main Battle Tanks were also lost in the attack contrary to the reports of some media. Some infantry weapons left behind by troops have been seized by the LTTE and pictures strewn all over the Internet as part of its propaganda campaign. The heavy air traffic experienced above Jaffna skies is also customary when a battle is going.

Some Field Commanders speaking to DefenceWire expressed amazement at the amount of visible preparations made for the assault during the last few weeks. This and other planning shortcomings have been well studied by the LTTE in this sector as evidenced by Muhamalai I where over 300 soldiers were killed and eight Battle-tanks destroyed. Prior to both these assaults, small LTTE recce teams were observed moving in and out of the area measuring troop strength in Kilali and Muhamalai (This was noted by DefenceWire in the last post). The area, lying adjacent to the lagoon, provides ample opportunities for infiltration and reconnaissance.

Army Close to Veduthalthivu

Sri Lanka Army's infantry units have closed in on Veduthalthivu. Veduthalthivu is famous for its Sea Tiger base and lies adjacent to Madu region. Troops have also consolidated themselves in the area west of Giant Tank and averted at least one LTTE attempt to overrun the defences. Around twenty men had sacrificed their lives in the last few days upto Friday (5).

Meanwhile Pro-LTTE media claimed it beat back a major offensive on Pooneryn. This claim is completely false. Several small LTTE recce teams were engaged by troops in the area around Kilali recently. LTTE's recently dear departed 'Political Wing' leader was coordinating the infiltration process prior to his demise, in preparation for a major thrust northwards from Pooneryn. He single handedly led an attack force on Army and Navy detachments in Pooneryn on 11th November 1999. Chelvan led another attack force from one flank on 22nd April 2000 alongside Karuna to capture the Elephant Pass Army Base.

Pillayan Back in Action

Pillayan

The conflict between Karuna Ammaan and his deputy Pillayan has worsened following allegations that Pillayan supporters tipped-off British Police of Ammaan's whereabouts. Pillayan returned to Batticaloa and Ampara within days after Ammaan's arrest, and has taken control of the Batticaloa Govindan Road Karuna Office which was under Thileepan. Thileepan, who returned from a Middle Eastern country in 2006 is related to Ammaan. He too is under Pillayan's custody at the moment.

Thileepan and also Krishnan, who joined Karuna Group from London, have been widely accused of engineering the split in the Karuna Group. Pillayan has a larger following numbering close to 900 cadres which includes prominent leaders like Thuyavan, Devilkanth, Markan, Jeyam, Seelan, Sasi, Sitha Master, Pradeep Master and Ajith. Ammaan only had around 400 cadres including Mangalan Master, Riyaseelan, Bharathi, Thileepan, Veera, Ranjan, Jeeventhiran and Sinnathambi. The latter was injured in a grenade attack in Navaladi, Batticaloa recently and is recovering at the Polonnaruwa hospital.

The recent clashes stemmed from a tussle for financial control and turf-war that erupted after Pillayan facilitated safe residence for Karuna's family in the United Kingdom and handed over the reigns of the organization to Karuna in 2006. Pillayan is widely accredited for his battlefield skills and for reorganizing the Karuna Group after Ammaan's departure in 2004.

Child Recruit at Chelvan's Funeral?

A picture taken at Thamilchelvan's funeral on the 5th has raised some eyebrows. In it a small child is shown standing behind a group of LTTE cadres carrying the remains of Chelvan to the Cemetery in Kilinochchi last evening. The child, possibly a girl, is dressed in the LTTE camouflage. Whether the child was dressed-up for the occasion or not and if so why was she walking alongside Chelvan's remains is unclear. The Island Newspaper indicated the picture was among the first images released of the funeral by Pro-LTTE media only to be withdrawn momentarily. Another image of a child soldier, acting as Chelvan's bodyguard was released soon after the attack on Thuruaiaru hideout last Friday. He was among those killed in the attack.