Elephant Pass Military Base
Encyclopedia
Elephant Pass Military Bas is a military base
located in strategic Elephant Pass
, Northern Province
of Sri Lanka
. Elephant Pass is the gateway of the Jaffna Peninsula
, that connects it to the mainland.
As far back as 1760 the Portuguese
built a fort, which was later rebuilt and garrisoned by the Dutch
in 1776 and later by the British
. After independence in 1948 the newly formed Ceylon Army built a base. This base was expand and troops garrisoning it increased during the 1980s with the out set of terrorist activity in Jaffna Peninsula and the start of the Sri Lankan Civil War
. By 1990 it was garrisoned by a full battalion
with support units. By July the 6th battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
was stationed. That month the First Battle of Elephant Pass
took place for the control of the base and the area around it. The garrison held out until the siege was broken by Operation Balavegaya
. By the 2000 the base was home to the 54 Division of the Sri Lanka Army. That year the Second Battle of Elephant Pass
in which the army was forced to withdraw from the base. Before the troops withdrew they destroyed much of the base including its communication tower to prevent it from falling in to enemy hands. The LTTE occurred the area fortifying it. The Sri Lankan Army recaptured the Elephant Pass in late 2008. It has reestablished its base and is home to the 55 Division
.
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
located in strategic Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
, Northern Province
Northern Province, Sri Lanka
The Northern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Elephant Pass is the gateway of the Jaffna Peninsula
Jaffna Peninsula
The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
, that connects it to the mainland.
As far back as 1760 the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
built a fort, which was later rebuilt and garrisoned by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1776 and later by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. After independence in 1948 the newly formed Ceylon Army built a base. This base was expand and troops garrisoning it increased during the 1980s with the out set of terrorist activity in Jaffna Peninsula and the start of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. By 1990 it was garrisoned by a full battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
with support units. By July the 6th battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarter battalion...
was stationed. That month the First Battle of Elephant Pass
First Battle of Elephant Pass
The First Battle of Elephant Pass was a battle fought in July 1991 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base of Elephant Pass, which was of strategic importance as it linked the northern mainland known as Wanni with the Jaffna Peninsula.-The battle:...
took place for the control of the base and the area around it. The garrison held out until the siege was broken by Operation Balavegaya
Operation Balavegaya
Operation Balavegaya was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Military in Jaffna. It was the largest amphibious assault launched by the Sri Lankan Military in its history. Operation Balavegaya was launched in response to siege of Elephant Pass by the LTTE terrorists...
. By the 2000 the base was home to the 54 Division of the Sri Lanka Army. That year the Second Battle of Elephant Pass
Second Battle of Elephant Pass
The Second Battle of Elephant Pass , was a battle fought in April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base in Elephant Pass, Jaffna....
in which the army was forced to withdraw from the base. Before the troops withdrew they destroyed much of the base including its communication tower to prevent it from falling in to enemy hands. The LTTE occurred the area fortifying it. The Sri Lankan Army recaptured the Elephant Pass in late 2008. It has reestablished its base and is home to the 55 Division
55 Division (Sri Lanka)
The 55 Division is an elite division of the Sri Lanka Army. A principal offensive division it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Jaffna Peninsula and is under the command of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna. -Towns captured by 55 Division:...
.