Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)

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]

Initial operations

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]

Events of December 4, 1997

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 into 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. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 7 December 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "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. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "OP JAYASIKURU". Sri Lanka Army. Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mahinda liberated only a corner east of A9 - CBK". Shamindra Ferdinando. Defence Ministry, Sri Lanka. 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "The army in serious trouble,War on terror revisited:". The Island. UPALI NEWSPAPERS (PVT) LTD. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 23 November 1997. 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.
  9. ↑ "Commandos and 'Tigers' in pitched battle for highway". The Sundaytimes. 7 November 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Singer, Peter Warren (2006). Children at War. University of California Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780520248762.
  11. ↑ "UN removes SL from 'child and armed conflict' list". Shenali Waduge. Ceylon Today. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Blood Is Their Medal The Men Of The Parama Weera Vibushanaya". David Blacker. The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
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