The advancing Sri Lanka Army troops in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya areas have again come under intensive attacks from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It appears that from a few days ago the Tigers had suddenly intensified their attacks against the military using 122 mm and 60 mm mortar shells.
The attacks had been directed towards the troops of the 58 Division in the North West of Vavuniya, and the 58 Division north of Murunkan and Janakapura north in Welioya area where the 59 Division was in operation. Questions have arisen as to whether the LTTE had received a fresh stock of arms recently enabling them to intensify their attacks.
State intelligence believe that the Tigers are still capable of obtaining weapons into their controlled territory by using fishermen from the western sea to smuggle in small quantities of weapons.
They also claimed that the LTTE had recently brought in a considerable stock of 122 mm, 60 mm and 81 mm artillery and mortar shells from South India using fishing boats to smuggle them successfully through the Vedithalathivu area in the western sea belt. Since the destruction by the Sri Lanka Navy of more than ten large LTTE vessels with arms onboard, off the eastern seas of the country, the entire arms smuggling operation in the eastern coast had been paralyzed making the Tigers to smuggle in arms in lesser quantities by using fishing boats and fishermen from the western seas.
Following this strategy the LTTE has increased smuggling arms from Tamil Nadu, which has now become the main supply hub for Tamil Tigers.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake too said recently that LTTE activities have increased along the Tamil Nadu coast. He said that the Navy had been successful in arresting an LTTE boat carrying accessories for helicopters and remote controlled aircraft.
More than ten fishing trawlers had been destroyed by the navy in its attempts to prevent the Tigers obtaining weapons, but the Navy has not been able to completely stop the arms smuggling operation since the Tigers coerce fishermen to use small fishing boats to smuggle in arms.
Intelligence reports claim that the LTTE had acquired arms from foreign arms dealers in Burma, Indonesia and Eriteria. They further state that the Tigers still have direct deals with arms dealers in those countries.
Last year the military found that the artillery and mortars in the possession of the LTTE, and other weapons used by them had been manufactured by the Chinese state owned arms manufacturer – China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO).
However, when the Sri Lankan government inquired from the NORINCO regarding this matter, it was revealed that this type of arms had been sold to the Eriterian government as a government-to-government deal. A highly placed defence official confirmed that after thorough investigations it was later revealed that several top ranking officers of the Eriterian armed forces had direct links with the Tigers and had re-sold those NORINCO manufactured war items to the LTTE.
In a report prepared by the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee it was alleged that the Eritrean government was providing direct assistance to Sri Lanka’s separatist Tamil Tigers.
The same situation was reported from Burma as a top Burmese General had supplied arms to the Tigers.
Intelligence units claim that these deals are still taking place between the LTTE and these top officials and due to the tough security blanket covering the eastern coast these arms are being brought to Kilinochchi through Tamil Nadu.
Intelligence Agencies believe that the rebels have used the same channels to bring down their latest stock of arms. However no confirmation had been received though the Tigers apparently commenced using this stock early last week.
Military advances from three fronts south of Wanni
The advancing troops are now less than 2 kilometres away from the Madhu Church area despite heavy isolated resistance from the Tigers. Currently the 571 Brigade led by Colonel G.V. Ravipriya moved towards Palampiddy, which is some two kilometres away from Madhu Church.
The 57 Division now dominates almost all the roads leading to the Madhu Church and would reach its destination within a short period. The 58 Division that is moving towards Adampan town and Mantai west and also towards the north from Murunkan were facing severe resistance from the LTTE’s artillery and mortar attacks. In all these battles the Tigers were not coming forward for a face-to-face combat and most of the casualties reported by the military are due to Anti-Personnel mines and mortar and artillery attacks.
Ground troops also confirmed that due to the military advances the latest trend of the LTTE was leaving behind bodies of their dead cadres.
The military has now adopted some of the tactics used by the Tigers. For example 11 Light Infantry soldiers led by Lt. Colonel G. Wijesuriya were able to capture a bunker north of Parappakandal in the 58 Division area. The Troops hurriedly removed all the anti-personal mines laid by the Tigers around the bunker and buried them inside the bunker. They then vacated the place and hid nearby (usually troops vacated the LTTE bunkers after capturing and killing the rebels unless the area has been fully secured). But in pursuance of the new tactics adopted, the troops waited. After a few hours a group of more than 10 armed rebels approached the bunker not knowing that the military had infiltrated the area. When the watching troops opened fire at the LTTE cadres they immediately ran into the bunker, where most of them were critically injured and at least eight cadres were killed from the anti-personal mines.
For the first time, ground troops took the two Mi-24 combat helicopter support to attack the Tigers at Parappakandal and the Parappakadaththal defence lines early this week.
In Welioya, troops advanced through thick jungle and gained control of several areas. The LTTE leadership had sent a large number of cadres to the area in order to block the military movement. The military’s Forward Defence Line (FDL) was located from Ethawatunuwewa to Kokkuthuduwai beach along a 12 kilomtres stretch. The fighting is now taking place at the LTTE FDL – North of Janakapura which is located one kilometre ahead the military FDL. Beyond the military defence is a thick jungle which is an ideal area to operate small teams by the military.
The area is strategically important for the Tigers since there is a road to Alampil (where the Sea Tiger have their base) from Kokkuthuduwai. And again there is a road leading from Kokkthuduwai to Kolamunai junction through Nayaru lagoon. All these roads lead to Mullaitivu town, which is the second last major town that the LTTE controls. Considering the importance of this area the rebels would intensify their efforts to prevent military movements.
Another development is that the rebels have locally manufactured 60 mm, 81 mm and 82mm mortars shells. The 60 mm shell called ‘Ragawan’ can be fired some 1200 metres and carries several kilograms of explosives. With the cut off from the main sea supply routes, the Tigers are compelled to manufacture their own shells for the mortars. Earlier they melted Aluminum Potts to manufacture mortar shells named ‘Baby mortar’.
Intelligence officers reluctant
Colombo Security in danger due to reluctance of Intelligence officers to operate Despite orders from the Defence Ministry, intelligence officers based in Colombo are reportedly reluctant to carry out their duties following the crack – down of Special Task Force and Air Force intelligence officers’ activities by the Criminal Investigations Department, resulting in an increase of LTTE activities in Colombo and its suburbs.
The recent series of bomb blasts in Colombo displayed the LTTE’s capability to carry out attacks in the City of Colombo and the suburbs at short notice.
Despite heavy security checking the Tigers proved that they are in a position to carry out attacks against any place or target.
Several intelligence officers of the Special Task Force who had been arrested and detained for at least six months by the CID without any proper charges were recently released by the Courts.
Considering these issues, the relevant authorities should take immediate action to prevent the occurrence of such situations so that concerned officers will not become frustrated and lose motivation to pursue covert intelligence gathering operations.
Indian and Maldivian war-ships berth in Colombo
Indian Naval ship ‘Sukanya’ and Maldivian National Defence Force Ship CGS “Huravee’ are now in the Colombo harbour on a good-will mission.
The Offshore Patrol Vessel – INS ‘Suknaya’ is currently based on the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy, at Viskhapatnam. The ship is 101.95 metres long with 192 displacement and 11 metre beam. The crew consists of 100 officers and sailors. She is capable of operating medium sized helicopters too. INS ‘Sukanya’ is tasked with the patrolling and protection of off shore assets, surveillance of the Indian exclusive economic zone and providing logistical support.
She has her own memories of visiting Sri Lanka twice, once for tsunami relief activities and operations from 27th to 31st December 2004 when the coastal areas of the country were devastated by the Boxing day tsunami on 26th December 2004, and the next tie was in 2006 on a goodwill mission.
MDNF naval Vessel CGS ‘Huravee’ is an offshore patrol vessel that is 46 metres long. She too has visited Sri Lanka once before in October 2007. The visits of these naval and defence force vessels will further strengthen the ties among the three nations and navies. Both Ships would leave the Colombo Port today.
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