Battle of Sampur

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Battle of Sampur
Part of the Sri Lankan civil war
Date August 28, 2006 - September 4, 2006
Location Sampur, Sri Lanka
Result Sri Lankan Army victory
Belligerents
Military of Sri Lanka Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Casualties and losses
33 killed 200+ killed
 
Sri Lankan Civil War
Main article: Eastern Theater of Eelam War IV

The Battle of Sampur was a battle fought in 2006 for the town of Sampur.

[edit] Background

Since the resumption of violence, concerns were mounting among the military establishment that the strategically crucial[1] Sri Lanka Navy base in Trinconmalee was under grave threat from LTTE gun positions located in and around Sampur, which lies across the Koddiyar Bay from Trincomalee.[2][3] Artillery fired from LTTE bases in the area could potentially cripple the naval base, bringing it to a complete standstill and therefore cutting the only military supply chain to Jaffna. All movements of naval vessels were also under the constant surveillance of the LTTE.[2] These fears were backed up by a United States military advisory team which visited the island in 2005.

[edit] The Battle

Following the clashes in Mavil Aru (Mavil Oya) and Muttur (Mooduthara), the LTTE had intensified attacks targeting the naval base in Trincomalee (Gokanna),[3] and in a speech on August 21, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse made clear the government intentions were to neutralize the LTTE threat from Sampur (Soma Pura).[3] On August 28, the Sri Lankan military launched an assault to retake the LTTE camps in Sampur and the adjoining Kaddaiparichchan (Gaeta-bara-hena)and Thoppur (Thupapura) areas. This led the LTTE to declare that if the offensive continued, the ceasefire would be officially over.

After steady progress, Sri Lankan security forces led by Brigade Commander Sarath Wijesinghe[4] re-captured Sampur (Somapura) from the LTTE on September 4, and began to establish military bases there,[5] as the LTTE admitted defeat and stated their cadres "withdrew" from the strategically important town.[6] It marked the first significant territorial change of hands since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2002.[7] The Sri Lankan Military lost 33 soldiers in the offensive and over 200 LTTE cadres were killed.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Sri Lanka army battles rebels in northeast", Peter Apps, Reuters, September 12, 2006. 
  2. ^ a b "Sri Lanka: LTTE's moment of truth at Sampur - Update 101", Col R Hariharan (retd., South Asai Analysis Group, September 8, 2006. 
  3. ^ a b c "Sri Lankan army captures Sampur", B. Muralidhar Reddy, The Hindu, September 5, 2006. 
  4. ^ a b "Fierce battles continue in Jaffna", B. Muralidhar Reddy, The Hindu, September 12, 2006. 
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka Army captures Sampur", Bloomberg.com, 4 September 2006. 
  6. ^ "LTTE admits defeat in Sampoor", BBC, 4 September 2006. 
  7. ^ "Sri Lankan military captures key rebel territory, Tigers vow to keep fighting", International Herald Tribune, September 3, 2006.