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Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)

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Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)
Part of the Sri Lankan civil war
Operation Jayasikurui
DateDecember 04, 1997
Location9°3′2.47″N 80°30′53.77″E / 9.0506861°N 80.5149361°E / 9.0506861; 80.5149361Coordinates: 9°3′2.47″N 80°30′53.77″E / 9.0506861°N 80.5149361°E / 9.0506861; 80.5149361 Kanakarayankulam, Mankulam
Result Tamil Tiger victory
Belligerents
Sri Lanka Military of Sri Lanka Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Srilal Weerasooriya
Vasantha Perera
Gamini Hettiaratchi
N L Sirimanne†		 Velupillai Prabhakaran
Karuna Amman
Units involved

53rd Division

Siruthai brigade (elite child brigade)
Charles Anthony Brigade
Kittu artillery brigade
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
  • 6 officers and 148 soldiers killed
  • 30 officers and 451 soldiers wounded
  • 18 missing in action[1]
  • 35 killed (LTTE claim)[2]
  • around 200 killed,[3] 102 identified by names (SLA claim)[2]



    • The Battle of Kanakarayankulam was fought on 4 December 1997, during the Sri Lankan civil war between the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It is known as the "worst-ever commando debacle" in Sri Lankan military history.[2] This battle was a part of operation Jayasikurui a Sri Lankan military offensive during the Eelam war III . It commenced on 13 May 1997 in order to open a land route to the government-held Jaffna peninsula through Vanni territory held by the LTTE, by linking the government-held towns of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi.[4][5] Despite heavy resistance, Sri Lankan military, led by elite 53rd division, managed to capture the Puliyankulam town on 15 November 1997.[6][7]

    Meanwhile, intelligence reports indicated a LTTE build up near Mankulam (north of Puliyankulam), and reconnaissance by UAV detected three fortified LTTE bases with supporting artillery and mortar positions.[8] On 4 December 1997, elements of Sinha regiment and commando regiment attached to 53rd division, advanced in two columns from Puthur (north west of Puliyankulam).[3][9] They advanced towards Mankulam and Kankarayankulam in a pincer movement and met with little resistance.[3] However they soon ran in to an ambush laid by the Siruthai brigade (Leopard brigade), an elite child brigade of the LTTE.[10][11] The LTTE bases were dummy ones and the commandos of 2nd commando regiment who were tasked to neutralize the artillery position was surrounded and overwhelmed.[12] Sri Lankan army losses included the commanding officer of the commando unit, major Nilantha Lakmal Sirimanne.[3] Captain G. S. Jayanath of 2nd commando regiment, posthumously received the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the country's highest military award for gallantry, for his actions during the battle.[12]

    References[]

    1. ↑ "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 14 December 1997. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/971214/sitrep.html. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 7 December 1997. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/971207/sitrep.html. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "An operation drags on, LTTE inflicts heavy losses on the Sri Lankan Army in the high-casualty war in the Wanni region.". Frontline. The Hindu. 13 November 1997. http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1425/14251260.htm. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    4. ↑ "OP JAYASIKURU". Sri Lanka Army. Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka. http://www.army.lk/opdetail.php?id=5. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    5. ↑ "Mahinda liberated only a corner east of A9 - CBK". Shamindra Ferdinando. Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka. 29 December 2014. http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Mahinda_liberated_only_a_corner_east_of_A9_CBK_20141224_02. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    6. ↑ "The army in serious trouble,War on terror revisited:". The Island. UPALI NEWSPAPERS (PVT) LTD. 9 October 2012. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=63380. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    7. ↑ "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 23 November 1997. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/971123/sitrep.html. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    8. ↑ Dissanayaka, T.D.S.A. (2005). War Or Peace in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: Popular Prakashan. p. 183. ISBN 8179911993. https://books.google.lk/books?id=wfkLyH95m9MC&dq=operation+jayasikuru&source=gbs_navlinks_s. 
    9. ↑ "Commandos and 'Tigers' in pitched battle for highway". The Sundaytimes. 7 November 1997. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/971207/frontm.html#LABEL1. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 
    10. ↑ Singer, Peter Warren (2006). Children at War. University of California Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780520248762. https://books.google.lk/books?id=B_43v3j3vlMC&pg=PA87&dq=leopard+brigade&hl=en&sa=X&ei=abZtVc_mJMaiugT-p4Ao&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=leopard%20brigade&f=false. 
    11. ↑ "UN removes SL from 'child and armed conflict' list". Shenali Waduge. Ceylon Today. 16 January 2013. http://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-22051-news-detail-un-removes-sl-from-child-and-armed-conflict-list.html. Retrieved 3 June 2015. 
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Blood Is Their Medal The Men Of The Parama Weera Vibushanaya". David Blacker. The Sunday Leader. http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/06/03/blood-is-their-medal-the-men-of-the-parama-weera-vibushanaya/. Retrieved 2 June 2015. 

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