List of military operations of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Encyclopedia
After successfully defeating the insurgency led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
(JVP) in 1971, the Sri Lanka Armed Forces
were confronted with a new conflict, this time with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) and other Tamil militant groups. The war escalated to the point where India was asked to intervene as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the IPKF united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. The war with the LTTE was halted following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the army has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.
Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually lead to the capture of Jaffna
and other rebel strongholds.
Major combat operations of the Sri Lankan Army
Eelam War I
IPKF intervention
Eelam War II
Eelam War III
Eastern Theater
Northern Theater
. The information included in the table has been pieced together from the individual battle articles.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
(JVP) in 1971, the Sri Lanka Armed Forces
Sri Lanka Armed Forces
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka encompassing the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Air Force which comes under preview of the Ministry of Defence...
were confronted with a new conflict, this time with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
(LTTE) and other Tamil militant groups. The war escalated to the point where India was asked to intervene as a peacekeeping force. This was later seen as a tactical error, as the IPKF united nationalist elements such as the JVP to politically support the LTTE in their call to evict the IPKF. The war with the LTTE was halted following the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 2002 with the help of international mediation. However, renewed violence broke out in December 2005 and following the collapse of peace talks, the army has been involved in the heavy fighting that has resumed in the north and east of the country.
Since 1980 the army has undertaken many operations against the LTTE rebels. The major operations conducted by the army eventually lead to the capture of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
and other rebel strongholds.
Major combat operations of the Sri Lankan ArmySri Lankan ArmyThe Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 JVP Insurrection | 1971–1972 |
Eelam War IEelam War IEelam War I is the name given to the initial phase of the armed conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. Although tensions between the government and Tamil militant groups had been brewing since the 1970s, full scale war did not break out until an attack by the LTTE on a Sri Lanka...
(1976-1987)
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vadamarachchi Operation Vadamarachchi Operation The Operation Liberation or Vadamarachchi Operation, the military offensive carried out by the Sri Lankan military during May to June 1987, to re-gain the territory of Vadamarachchi in Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE control... |
IPKF interventionIndian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil WarThe Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War was the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka intended to perform a peacekeeping role...
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| JVP Uprising | 1987–1990 |
Eelam War IIEelam War IIEelam War II is the name given to the second phase of armed conflict between Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The war started after the failure of peace talks between the Premadasa government and the LTTE...
(1990-1995)
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Sea Breeze Operation Sea Breeze The Operation Sea Breeze may refer to the*Operation Sea Breeze by the Sri Lankan Military in 1990.*Gaza flotilla raid by the Israeli Navy in 2010.... |
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| Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation Thrividha Balaya was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Military in Jaffna. The Operation was carried out to break the siege of the Sri Lanka Army garrison of the old Dutch Jaffna Fort in Jaffna. The operation was successfully carried out and the garrison withdrawn.... |
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| 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... I, II |
Eelam War IIIEelam War IIIEelam War III is the name given to the third phase of armed conflict between Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. After the period of 100 days cease-fire the hostilities broke out on the 19th of April 1995. The LTTE - Sea Tigers planted explosives in two gun...
(1995-2002)
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Riviresa Operation Riviresa Operation Riviresa , was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Jaffna. Starting on the 17 October 1995, the primary objective of the operation was the capture of the town of Jaffna and rest of the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE... |
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| Operation Jayasikurui Operation Jayasikurui Operation Jayasikurui , was a Sri Lankan military action launched on May 13, 1997; it lasted until it was called off in 1999... |
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| Operation Rivibala | |||
| Operation Ranagosa | |||
| Operation Rivikirana | |||
| Operation Kinihira I, II, III/IV, V/VI, VII, VIII ,IX |
Eastern TheaterEastern Theater of Eelam War IVThe Eastern Theater of Eelam War IV, the warfare started in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka on July 21, 2006, when the LTTE cut off the water supply to the rice fields in the Mavil aru area in the eastern Trincomalee district...
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations in Thoppigala area Battle of Thoppigala The Battle of Thoppigala was a battle between the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought during a period of the first half of 2007 over control of the LTTE-dominated peak of Thoppigala , located 40 km northwest of Batticaloa, in eastern Sri... |
Northern TheaterNorthern Theater of Eelam War IVThe Northern Theater of Eelam War IV refers to the fighting that took place in the northern province of Sri Lanka between July 2006 and May 18, 2009.-Beginning of the war:...
| Operation Name | Date | Location | Purpose/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 SLA Northern offensive |
Major Battles
The table below lists all the major battles of the Sri Lankan Civil WarSri 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...
. The information included in the table has been pieced together from the individual battle articles.
| Battle | |Location | |Deaths | Sri Lankan Military Sri Lanka Armed Forces The Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka encompassing the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Air Force which comes under preview of the Ministry of Defence... | Tamil Tigers (LTTE) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil... | IPKF Indian Peace Keeping Force Indian Peace Keeping Force was the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990... | Eelam War I Eelam War I Eelam War I is the name given to the initial phase of the armed conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. Although tensions between the government and Tamil militant groups had been brewing since the 1970s, full scale war did not break out until an attack by the LTTE on a Sri Lanka... 23 July 1983 – 29 July 1987 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokkilai Offensive 1985 Kokkilai Offensive The Kokkilai offensive was a military operation carried out by the Tamil Tigers in Kokkilai, Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka. It is claimed this was the first attack by LTTE on a Sri Lankan Army barrack... |
13 February 1985 | SLA camp, Kokkilai Kokkilai Kokkilai or Kokilai or Kokkulaay is a town in the Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka. It is located about 40 km south-east of the District capital Mullaitivu. It is a coastal town, located next to Kokkilai lagoon, it is also close to Trincomalee District border.- See also :* 1985 Kokkilai... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
4-100 | 16 | LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil... victory |
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| Vadamarachchi Operation Vadamarachchi Operation The Operation Liberation or Vadamarachchi Operation, the military offensive carried out by the Sri Lankan military during May to June 1987, to re-gain the territory of Vadamarachchi in Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE control... (aka Operation Liberation) |
26 May 1987 - June 1987 | Vadamarachchi Vadamarachi Vadamarachchi is one of the three historic regions of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. The other two regions are Thenmarachchi and Valikamam. Vadamarachchi is sometimes spelt Vadamarachi, Vadamaraachi or Vadamaraadchi.-Etymology:... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
689 | 631 | Partial SLA victory, Operation Poomalai Operation Poomalai Operation Poomalai or Eagle Mission 4 was the codename assigned to a mission undertaken by the Indian Air Force to airdrop supplies over the besieged town of Jaffna in Sri Lanka on 4 June 1987 in support of Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan Civil War.... |
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| Operation Poomalai Operation Poomalai Operation Poomalai or Eagle Mission 4 was the codename assigned to a mission undertaken by the Indian Air Force to airdrop supplies over the besieged town of Jaffna in Sri Lanka on 4 June 1987 in support of Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan Civil War.... |
4 June 1987 | Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
Indian intervention Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War The Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War was the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka intended to perform a peacekeeping role... |
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| Cease Fire 29 July 1987 - October 1987 |
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| Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War The Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War was the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka intended to perform a peacekeeping role... October 1987 - 24 March 1990 |
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| Operation Pawan Operation Pawan Operation Pawan was the codename assigned to the operation by the Indian Peace Keeping Force to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE , in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord... |
11 October 1987 – 25 October 1987 |
Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
? | 214 | IPKF victory | ||||||||
| Operation Trishul Operation Trishul Operation Trishul, along with Operation Viraat, was an anti-insurgency operation launched by the IPKF against the LTTE in April 1988 in Northern Sri Lanka, in the provinces of Mannar to Mullaitivu and Elephant Pass to Vavuniya.... |
April 1988 | 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... |
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| Operation Viraat Operation Viraat Operation Viraat , along with Operation Trishul, was an anti-insurgency operation launched by the IPKF against the LTTE in April 1988 in Northern Sri Lanka, in the provinces of Mannar to Mullaitivu and Elephant Pass to Vavuniya.... |
April 1988 | 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... |
IPKF victory | ||||||||||
| Operation Checkmate Operation Checkmate Operation Checkmate was an anti-insurgency operation carried out by the IPKF against the LTTE in the Vadamarachi area of northern Sri Lanka in June 1988. Initiated immediately prior to the elections in the North eastern provinces, the aim of the operation was to destroys the Tigers' capacity to... |
June 1988 | Vadamarachi Vadamarachi Vadamarachchi is one of the three historic regions of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. The other two regions are Thenmarachchi and Valikamam. Vadamarachchi is sometimes spelt Vadamarachi, Vadamaraachi or Vadamaraadchi.-Etymology:... , 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... |
IPKF victory | ||||||||||
| Jaffna University Helidrop Jaffna University Helidrop The Jaffna University Helidrop was the first of the operations launched by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces aimed at disarming the Tamil Tigers by force and securing the town of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in the opening stages of Operation Pawan during the active Indian mediation in the Sri Lankan Civil War... |
12 October 1988 | Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil... victory |
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| Eelam War II Eelam War II Eelam War II is the name given to the second phase of armed conflict between Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The war started after the failure of peace talks between the Premadasa government and the LTTE... 10 June 1990 – 9 January 1995 |
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| Battle of Kokavil Battle of Kokavil The Battle of Kokavil was a battle in June and July of 1990 for the control of the town of Kokavil in Sri Lanka. The battle was fought between the Sri Lankan Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam... |
27 June 1990 – 11 July 1990 |
SLA camp, Kokavil Kokavil Kokavil is a village in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka, also called Kokkavil. It is situated along A-9 road.- Massacre on Yal Devi:Troops were located parallel to A-9 Highway and old Murikandi-Kokavil Railway Station where LTTE massacre on "Yal Devi" passenger train was occurred... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
69 | LTTE victory | |||||||||
| Operation Sea Breeze Operation Sea Breeze The Operation Sea Breeze may refer to the*Operation Sea Breeze by the Sri Lankan Military in 1990.*Gaza flotilla raid by the Israeli Navy in 2010.... |
SLA victory | ||||||||||||
| Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation Thrividha Balaya was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Military in Jaffna. The Operation was carried out to break the siege of the Sri Lanka Army garrison of the old Dutch Jaffna Fort in Jaffna. The operation was successfully carried out and the garrison withdrawn.... |
SLA victory | ||||||||||||
| 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... (aka Operation Power Force) |
14 July 1991 – 9 August 1991 |
Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
202-400 | 573-1,000+ | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Operation Sathbala | SLA victory | ||||||||||||
| Operation Balavegaya II | SLA victory | ||||||||||||
| Welioya | 2 | 330 | |SLA victory | ||||||||||
| Battle of Elephant Pass (1st) 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:... |
10 July 1991 – 9 August 1991 |
SLA camp, 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.... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
202-400 | 573-1,000 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Battle of Pooneryn Battle of Pooneryn The Battle of Pooneryn was a battle fought on November 11, 1993 for the town of Pooneryn.-Background:The main target of the LTTE in the shorline offensive was the Sri Lankan government naval base at Pooneryn... |
11 November 1993 – 12 November 1993 |
Pooneryn (Poonakari) Pooneryn Pooneryn is a strategically important village in the northern province of Sri Lanka situated just below the Jaffna Peninsula. Built in the Pooneryn area of north portion of the island first by the Portuguese to protect its possessions in Jaffna, it was expanded by the Dutch till in 1770 it was... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
441 | 469 | Both SLA & LTTE claimed the victory | ||||||||
| Cease Fire 9 January 1995 – 19 April 1995 |
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| Eelam War III Eelam War III Eelam War III is the name given to the third phase of armed conflict between Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. After the period of 100 days cease-fire the hostilities broke out on the 19th of April 1995. The LTTE - Sea Tigers planted explosives in two gun... 19 April 1995 - December 2001 |
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| Operation Riviresa (Sun Rays) Operation Riviresa Operation Riviresa , was a combined military operation launched by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Jaffna. Starting on the 17 October 1995, the primary objective of the operation was the capture of the town of Jaffna and rest of the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE... / Battle of Jaffna Battle of Jaffna (1995) The Battle of Jaffna was a battle fought from October to December 1995 for the city of Jaffna.-The battle:The city of Jaffna had been for years a major stronghold of the LTTE. The Tigers wieved the city as the capital of their new independent state. The city was briefly recaptured by the Indian... |
17 October 1995 – 5 December 1995 |
Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
500 | 2,000 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Battle of Mullaitivu (1st) (aka Operation Unceasing Waves) |
18 July 1996 – 25 July 1996 |
Mullaitivu Mullaitivu Mullaitivu is a small town on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. A largely fishing settlement, the town in the early 20th century grew as an anchoring harbour of the small sailing vessels transporting goods between... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
1,242 | 332 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| Operation Sath Jaya | 26 July 1996 – 3 October 1996 |
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.... and Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... |
≈ 500 | 121 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Vavunathivu Offensive 1997 Vavunathivu Offensive The 1997 Vavunathivu Offensive was a military operation in which the Tamil Tigers captured Vavunathivu Army camp from the Sri Lankan Army. The Tamil Tigers are believed to have captured large amounts of weapons & ammunitions in this operation.... |
7 March 1997 | SLA camp, Vavunathivu Vavunathivu Vavunathivu is a town in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. It is located about 5 km Southwest of Batticaloa or 15 km Northwest of Kokkadichcholai.... , Batticaloa District Batticaloa District Batticaloa district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Batticaloa town... |
75 | 103 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| Operation Jayasikurui Operation Jayasikurui Operation Jayasikurui , was a Sri Lankan military action launched on May 13, 1997; it lasted until it was called off in 1999... |
13 May 1997 - 1999 | 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... |
1,350 | 3,614 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| * Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive | 10 June 1997 – 25 June 1997 |
Thandikulam & Omanthai Omanthai Omanthai is a little town in North Sri Lankan district of Vavuniya. The last Sri Lankan army check point which divided the Government and LTTE controlled areas used to be in Omanthai for many years.- Transport :... , Vavuniya District Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
700 | 165 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| Battle of Kilinochchi (1st) (aka Operation Unceasing Waves II) |
27 September 1998 – 29 September 1998 |
Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
443 | 520 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| Oddusuddan Offensive Oddusuddan offensive (1999) The Oddusuddan offensive was a military operation in which the Tamil Tigers captured Oddusuddan from the Sri Lankan Army. The Tamil Tigers are believed to have captured large amounts of weapons & ammunitions as well as armoured vehicles in this operation... |
October 1999 – 2 November 1999 |
Oddusuddan Oddusuddan Oddusuddan or Ottisuddan is a town in the Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka. Some say in Tamil Oddu-suddan translates to 'roof-tile-making-place'. It is located nearly halfway between Mankulam and Mullaitivu on highway A34.- See also :... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
800 | LTTE victory | |||||||||
| Battle for the A-9 highway Battle for the A-9 highway The Battle for the A-9 highway was a battle fought in March and April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan A-9 highway.-Background:The A-9 highway connected the Sri Lankan capital with the northern Jaffna peninsula. More impotently the Elephant Pass military base, which was the only land route... |
27 March 2000 – 20 April 2000 |
A-9 Highway, Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
203 | 317 | 50 | LTTE victory | |||||||
| Battle of Elephant Pass (2nd) 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.... (aka Operation Unceasing Waves III) |
22 April 2000 – 23 April 2000 |
SLA camp, 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.... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
204 | 150 | LTTE victory | ||||||||
| Bandaranaike Airport attack Bandaranaike Airport attack The Bandaranaike Airport attack was an assault by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Bandaranaike International Airport, on July 24, 2001... |
24 July 2001 | Bandaranaike International Airport Bandaranaike International Airport Bandaranaike International Airport is Sri Lanka's only international airport at the moment. Mattala International Airport, when it gets built will be the second International Airport of Sri Lanka. It is located in Katunayake, north of Colombo... , Katunayake Katunayake Katunayake , is a town situated on the west coast of the island of Sri Lanka near Negombo and close to the commercial capital of Colombo. It is the site of Bandaranaike International Airport, the primary international air gateway to Sri Lanka... , Gampaha District Gampaha District - Local Authorities in Gampaha district:Gampaha is the District Capital of Gampaha District and is a principal town around Colombo. It is about 4 km from Miriswatte on the Colombo - Kandy Road.- Urban Councils :* Katunayake-Seeduwa * Ja-ela* Wattala... |
7 | 14 | Successful LTTE raid | ||||||||
| Cease Fire December 2001 - 26 July 2006 |
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| Battle of Point Pedro Battle of Point Pedro (2006) The Battle of Point Pedro was a naval battle that occurred on May 12, 2006 near Point Pedro, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy was attacked by a group of Tamil Tiger boats... |
12 May 2006 | Bay of Bengal Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the... near Point Pedro Point Pedro Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
17 | 54 | SLN victory | ||||||||
| Eelam War IV Eelam War IV Eelam War IV is the name given to the fourth phase of armed conflict between the Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which is currently proscribed as a terrorist organisation by 32 countries . Renewed hostilities began on the July 26, 2006 when Sri Lanka Air... 26 July 2006 – 18 May 2009 |
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| Battle of Jaffna Battle of Jaffna (2006) The Battle of Jaffna was a battle fought in two phases in August and October 2006 for the Jaffna peninsula. It was the fourth battle for the peninsula since the start of the war.-Tamil Tiger offensive:... |
11 August 2006 – 29 October 2006 |
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... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
300 | 700-1,000 | Stalemate | ||||||||
| Battle of Sampur Battle of Sampur The Battle of Sampur was a battle fought in 2006 for the town of Sampur.-Background:Since the resumption of violence, concerns were mounting among the military establishment that the strategically crucial Sri Lanka Navy base in Trinconmalee was under grave threat from LTTE gun positions located in... |
28 August 2006 – 4 September 2006 |
Sampoor (Sampur) Sampoor Sampur is a town in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka and it is located about 30 km South-East of Trincomalee on the South-Eastern side of the Trincomalee Harbour.- References :... , Trincomalee District Trincomalee District Trincomalee district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka... |
33 | 200 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Attack on Galle Harbour Attack on Galle Harbour Attack on Galle Harbour was a suicide attack carried out by fifteen Sea Tigers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on the commercial Galle harbour and Sri Lanka Navy base SLNS Dakshina in the tourist town of Galle in southern Sri Lanka.... |
18 October 2006 | Galle Galle Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District.... , Galle District Galle District Galle is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.- Geological background :Its area is , in which is water and is land. Galle District bounded on the North by Benthara river, South and West by the Indian Ocean and East by Matara and Ratnapura Districts. Topography of Galle District is very... |
1 | 9 | 1 | SLN victory | |||||||
| Battle of Thoppigala Battle of Thoppigala The Battle of Thoppigala was a battle between the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fought during a period of the first half of 2007 over control of the LTTE-dominated peak of Thoppigala , located 40 km northwest of Batticaloa, in eastern Sri... |
25 April 2007 – 11 July 2007 |
Kudumbimalai (Thoppikkal) Kudumbimalai Kudumbimalai is a region in the West of Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. It consists a rock formation and a thick jungle. This area is very close to Polonnaruwa District border.Kudumbimalai in Tamil translates to Hair-knot-rock... , Batticaloa District Batticaloa District Batticaloa district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Batticaloa town... |
48 | 700-800 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Battle of Point Pedro | 19 June 2007 | Bay of Bengal Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the... near Point Pedro Point Pedro Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
40 | SLN victory | |||||||||
| Raid on Anuradhapura AFB Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base The Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base, code-named Operation Ellaalan, was a successful commando raid conducted on SLAF Anuradhapura an Air Force Base in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam... |
22 October 2007 | SLAF Base, Anuradhapura Anuradhapura Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic... , Anuradhapura District Anuradhapura District Anuradhapura is a district in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its area is 7,179 km².-Demographics:The population according to 2001 census is 745,693 of which 90.7 % are sinhalese, 8.3 % Sri Lankan Moors, 0.7 % native Sri Lankan tamils and 0.1 % tamils of Indian origin... |
14 | 20 | Successful LTTE raid | ||||||||
| Battle of Delft Battle of Delft The Battle of Delft was a naval battleon December 25, 2007 and part of the Sri Lankan Civil War. The Sri Lankan Navy claimed that it received reports of a boat cluster moving off of Delft Island. After moving in to investigate clashes erupted and fierce sea battle ensued. Both sides claimed to... |
25 December 2007 | Palk Strait Palk Strait Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several... near Neduntheevu (Delft) island Neduntheevu Neduntheevu or Neduntivu is an island in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka. This island is named as Delft in the Admiralty Chart unlike the other islands in the area which are named with their Tamil names. The island's area is 50 km² and it is roughly oval-shaped... , Jaffna District Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
4-40 | Disputed | |||||||||
| Battle of Vidattaltivu Battle of Vidattaltivu The Battle of Vidattaltivu was a military conflict over the town of Vidattaltivu, Sri Lanka fought by the 58 Division of the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam . The battle took place on July 16, 2008, part of the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan... |
16 July 2008 | Vidattaltivu Vidattaltivu Vidattaltivu or Vidaththaltheevu is a coastal town in the Mannar District of northwest Sri Lanka. Vidattaltivu is the biggest town situated on Sri Lanka's North-Western coast and was the major base of the Sea Tigers until recently... , Mannar District Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
1 | 51 | SLA victory | ||||||||
| Battle of Kilinochchi (2nd) 2008–2009 Battle of Kilinochchi The Battle of Kilinochchi was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the control of the town of Kilinochchi in the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war between November 2008 and January 2009... |
23 November 2008 – 2 January 2009 |
Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... , Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
SLA victory | ||||||||||
| Battle of Mullaitivu (2nd) Battle of Mullaitivu (2009) The Battle of Mullaitivu was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the control of the town of Mullaitivu in the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war. The town of Mullaitivu was the last stronghold of the LTTE... |
2 January 2009 – 25 January 2009 |
Mullaitivu Mullaitivu Mullaitivu is a small town on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. A largely fishing settlement, the town in the early 20th century grew as an anchoring harbour of the small sailing vessels transporting goods between... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
SLA victory | ||||||||||
| Battle of Elephant Pass (3rd) Third Battle of Elephant Pass In the Third battle of Elephant Pass, Elephant Pass was recaptured from the Tamil Tigers by the security forces of the Sri Lankan Army.Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka declared that Elephant Pass was captured by the army on January 9, 2009.... |
9 January 2009 | 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.... |
SLA victory | ||||||||||
| Battle of Chalai Battle of Chalai The Battle of Chalai was an armed confrontation over control of Chalai, Sri Lanka between the 55 Division of the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan civil war, fought in February 2009. Chalai was the final Sea Tiger base held by the LTTE during the... |
2 February 2009 – 6 February 2009 |
Chalai, Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
12 | SLA victory | |||||||||
| Battle of Puthukkudiyirippu Battle of Puthukkudiyirippu The Battle Of Puthukkudiyirippu was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military, 58 Division, 53 Division and Task Force 8 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the control of the last stronghold held by the LTTE... |
Puthukkudiyirippu Puthukkudiyirippu Puthukkudiyirippu can refer to:* Puthukkudiyiruppu - a town in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka.* Puthukkudiyiruppu - a town in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka.... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
SLA victory | |||||||||||
| Truce 13 April 2009 – 15 April 2009 |
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| Final Battle of the Sri Lankan Civil War | Puthukkudiyirippu Puthukkudiyirippu Puthukkudiyirippu can refer to:* Puthukkudiyiruppu - a town in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka.* Puthukkudiyiruppu - a town in Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka.... , Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
SLA victory | |||||||||||
| GOSL declares victory and end of the war 19 May 2009 |
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