Army takes Paranthan while moving closer to kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu
Sri Lankan Armed forces registered a military triumph on the last day of year 2008 when they began moving into the strategic northern Town Paranthan situated 385 km away from Colombo.
The conquest came a day before the target date of New years day on Jan 1st 2009 because troops of 58 division took the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam by surprise in athe early hours of the morning on December 31st.
Soldiers from the 2 commando corps moved through some paddy fields and the waters of a “Villu” or pond under cover of darkness and attacked tigers defending Paranthan from the rear.
With the soldiers moving in to the rear on one side soldiers of the 10 Gemunu watch who were located about 800 metres away from the key Paranthan “Santhi” or junction also intensified their drive.
Both the 2 commando corps and 10 Gemunu watch are key components of 58 division or Task Force one commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva.
Despite stiff resistance the soldiers were able to move forward and entered the Paranthan Town from two directions from the North – west and west.
The LTTE led by Kilinochchi area commander “Col” Velavan launched a series of limited counter – attacks to dislodge the soldiers but failed.
At least 25 tiger cadres attached to the Imran – Pandiyan infantry brigade were killed and about 50 – 60 injured.
The Air Force provided tremendous air support by conducting a series of regular air strikes in the Paranthan, Murasumottai- Kilinochchi area.
In the process several civilians in the Murasumottai area were killed and injured. At least five bodies were admitted to the hospital while about 16 were hospitalised for injuries.
Soldier who withstood LTTE counter attacks are now in the process of expanding control over the entire town which is also called Periya Paranthan.
Soldiers have also mounted the Jaffna – Kandy road known as A- 9 highway on two points to the north and south of Paranthan town and are encircling it.
Paranthan is 4.5 km to the north of Kilinochchi along the A – 9 highway.
Despite the army being on the ascendant it is learnt that LTTE cadres were yet in possession of the town’s central area around the key Paranthan “Santhi” or junction.
The tigers were however retreating gradually from their positions towards Murasumottai and Vatakachchi on the Paranthan – Mullaitheevu road.
The Paranthan “Santhi” or junction comprises two inter-sections within 125 metre distance of each other.
One intersection is where the Paranthan – Poonagary road reaches the A – 9 highway. This road commences in Poonagary in the west and reaches Paranthan in the north.
The other inter-section is where the Paranthan – Mullaitheevu road begins at Paranthan and then proceeds east.
The road goes east , south – east and then south to Mullaitheevu via places like Murasumottai, Vatakachi and Puthukudiyiruppu.
Both these intersections in close proximity on the A – 9 highway are called collectively as Paranthan “santhi”.
The 58 division commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva has been able to take Paranthan mainly through its strategic manouevering that has enabled it to make several remarkable victories in the past.
Before moving into Paranthan troops proceeding east along the axis of the Poonagary – Paranthan road reached the general area of Kunjuparanthan after crossing the Kudamurutty Aaru river.
Thereafter some soldiers cut across in a north – eastern direction and seized areas like Kamalakaddukulam, Komarikoodakulam and Thadduvankoddi. The LTTE defending positions further south and south – east of these areas were taken by surprise.
The troops were given intensive air support by the Air Force that conducted nearly twenty air strikes.
After reaching positions north and north – west of Paranthan the troops began changed course and moved south and south – east.
These moves placed the soldiers to the rear of tigers defending Paranthan and environs.
This was followed by the pre-dawn manoeuvre through fields and the pond under cover of darkness.
Paranthan is a key town with roads running to Elephant Pass in the north, Kilinochchi in the South, Poonagary in the West and Puthukudiyiruppu – Mullaitheevu in the east running through it.
The now defunct Paranthan chemicals factory was its economic mainstay with hundreds of residents being employed there.
Paranthan was considered important for the safety of Elephant Pass when the strategic isthmus was under military control.
So “Operation Sathjaya” was conducted in 1996 to take Paranthan.
But the LTTE also aware of Paranthan’s importance took the town in 1999 as part of its “operation Oyatha Alaigal”. The fall of Paranthan in 1999 was a prelude to Elephant Pass’s fall in 2000.
Now the capture of Paranthan will be a kind of precursor to the re-taking of Elephant Pass by the army.
By controlling Paranthan the armed forces would be ale to restrict LTTE supplies to the Muhamaalai front within the Jaffna peninsula.
Troops could also move very close to Elephant pass from the South. Thus LTTE cadres within the peninsula would find it difficult to maintain their positions being wedged in from both sides.
With the seizure of strategic Paranthan the soldiers have three options.
They can move north towards Elephant Pass or move South towards Kilinochchi or move east towards Murasumottai – Vatakachcchi – Puthukudiyiruppu.
Analysts say that soldiers are likely to pursue all three options simultaneously by launching advances and pushes on a rotational basis.
With the troops taking Paranthan tiger defences around Kilinochchi will be further weakened. Also tiger defences around Elephant Pass will be assailed from the rear.
While Elephant pass would be captured through a “double envelopement” strategy , Kilinochchi could be surrounded from several directions. Troops could move towards Vatakachi and then turn around and close in on Kilinochchi.
Thus the de – facto tiger administrative capital would be encircled and assailed on many fronts.
While 58 division enjoyed its triumph over Paranthan on New Year’s eve the divisions 57 commanded by Gen. Jagath Dias and 59 commanded by Brigadier Nandana Tudawatte also made significant strides.
57 division troops succeeded in breaking through the “L” shaped LTTE earth bund cum trench in the Adampan south area and moving forward towards the outskirts of Kanagapuram.
57 division soldiers also moved a short distance forward in Thirumurugandy and Iranaimadhu.
Thus tropps are now poised to move towards Kilinochchi from the north, west and south.
This makes Kilinochchi extremely vulnerable . It is likely to fall within a few days as soldiers edge closer.
In East Wanni soldiers of 59 division advanced on two fronts towards the Mullaitheevu town and in another direction towards Puthukudiyiruppu.
Proceeding along the coast from the north of Alambil soldiers advanced about a km north in the Silavathai area. Another column advanced eastwards from Thanioootru towards the Nandhikadal lagoon area.
Meanwhile other troops moved from the north of Mulliyawalai on the A – 34 highway through jungle areas in the direction of Puthukudiyiruppu.
According to analysts the chances of Kilinochchi falling before mid – January and Mullaitheevu town falling before end of January is very high.
These military victories will boost the government’s fortunes in the forthcoming Provincial council elections
18 Comments
Congratulations to all our military personnel. I hope you know that your efforts are being greatly appreciated and admired for your heroic endeavours. It should be said that all these victories are NOT conquests, but a liberation. Now it is up to the politicians to provide a just society where we are all equal.
On the eve of the new year, I pray that the remaining Tiger bastions will be liberated with the minimum loss of lives, as we are all Sri Lankans, and peace will reign over our nation once again.
GOD BE WITH OUR SOLDIERS ALL THE WAY UNTIL EVERYBODY IS SAFE
My dear soldiers, sailors & airmen,
today u showed the guts you have. the energy and the courage you have. i think it is the best New year present that any sri lankan could wish for. dear brothers keep going for the killinochchi, the heartland of the goats with tiger skin. remember you are already in the book of 'Sri Lankan national heroes' and you will forever be. may god bless you my brothers and sisters and may the new year bring you all the happiness and joy!!
Pirapaharan selected the Rajapaksha as a preferred president by denying the voting rights to Vanni Tamils in last presidential election. Now he is paying the price for it...
WE IN CANBERRA CONGRATULATE OUR BRAVE TROOPS OF THE 58 DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SAVINDRA DE SILVA AND THOSE IN 57TH AND 59 TH DIVISIONS.
I HOPE THAT BEFORE LONG, THE ARMY WILL RETAKE PARANTHAN AND GO FOR KILINOCHI.
WE PREY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR TROOPS.
FULL MARKS TO THE DEFENCE SECRETARY AND THE ARMY COMMANDER!
This is a New year present for the people in Kilinochchi from Sri Lnkan forces....
our Armed forces are brave soliders fighting for our country and as we start a new year the rebels will be crushed and Prabarkarans big mouth will be silenced forever all his hooligans will be crushed and captured, and the tamil people will gain their rightful honor and peace forever.
Great boys, Congratulations from the bottom of our hearts. You sacrify your life on behalf of the majority of the country, every one should come forward and bless them for their victory.
Different parties like UNP and unfortunately JVP also getting billions of $$$ to unstable your effort by unstabling the political situation in the country. They are screaming just for the money they get. If they so loved this country they wouldn't have destroyed the public assets and valued life in 1971, 1983 and 1989/90. If they saved those assets this country would never face a economic crisis like this. They should better pay for them from the billions of $$$ you are getting or atleast say sorry and accept the responsibility. Those people have never sent at least their relation to the war but they condemn your effort. Wait and see they will have to pay with the interest at the next election.
So our heroes understand and go for the target without considering all that bc's majority of people with you. They always pray for you.
The United Sri Lanka Assn of New Zealand send ou best wishes, prayers and thanks the brave soldiers of Sri Lanka's security forces for their continued and successful liberation of Sri Lanka and it's people from Tamil Tiger terror.We for our part, our doing our bit to explain to the international media of the significance of your efforts and achievements and defend them from misrepreseantation.We wish the seucrity forces a happy and prosperous 2009 and hopefully a sucessful conclusion to the military part of the liberation effort.
Dr. Chula Rajapakse, Spokesperson USLA Wellington NZ
god and bless you, triple gem as well
Army will learn good lesson from Thalaivar Hon V Prabakaran. Even Mahinda, Kotabaya, Sarath P and mathanamutha (Kekiliya) should not be able to control "RUNNING FORCE". LTTE is waiting to kill atleast 25000 army. God bless Prabakaran and Tamils. God bless Tamil Eelam.
this taken as Sinhala propaganda
Please take utter care of the civilians on your march towards liberation. Thank you editor for the Google map link. I was looking for the satellite photos in the google map, and surprisingly the wanni area is blacked out. Could anyone share any info why this could happen. I know srilankan defences would cover their areas for securuty purposes, but how come these tiger areas covered. Is it the work of tiger supporters working for google or digitalglobe companies?
Our brave soldiers must be supported by peace loving and good Sri lankans all over the world. Soon we can end terrorism and see a new dawn for Sri lanka. This time India and the EU are not coming in to save the LTTE terrorists. Please save Sri lanka from terorrism and end this war. Also Sri lanka beware of certain expat elements in the UK, EU and USA particularly Los Angeles trying to get Barak Obama and UK MPs to save the Tamil Tiger terrorists.
The Mahinda Govt. Conducting Brutal Bombardment of civilian areas and killing innocent civilians against the Geneva convention. Innocent lives been lost to the glory of the Mahinda Brothers. So far over 1000 Sinhalese soldiers lost ther lives during the month of November and December 2008, according to Mangala Samarweera, former Foreign Minister in the Mahinda Govt.
Sri Lanka is the only country in the world which bombards and kills its own civilians.
Capturing areas and destroying the LTTE is not going to solve the ethnic conflict simmering for the past five decades. over 85,000 people died during these five decades of ethnic strife began with SWRD's Sinhala only Act.
The comments here are another example for the stupidity of most Sinhalese! They again compare territorial gains with a military victory.
Let me be clear. The Sinhala armed forces (not Sri Lankan forces as everyone knows which ethnic people are employed for the military) are superior in men and material. (Thanks to the so-called international community.) Their war is backed by many powerful states. Attention should be paid to the fact that the Sinhala government and their armed forces need the support of those countries to conduct their war. Fine, leave it. Once they achieve a "victory" and occupy parts of the Tamil homeland they are showing again and again the Sinhala Lion flag as a sign of occupation. In the way they are behaving they admit that they have conquered a different land which is not belongig to them. Well, they will not be there for long - this is certain, but this is another (hi)story.
Irregardless, the LTTE will offer continued resistance until the SL economy starts to feel the full effects of the global recession. Then they will probably launch a counter attack or sign a ceasefire agreement.
There is no military solution. The SL Armed Forces captured this area years ago only to lose it shortly after. Capturing real estate seems to be the military's prime objective, but they would be closer to victory if they just focus on depleting the LTTE's human capital.
If the long-awaited LTTE counter attack proves to be successful, I for one would have a hard time doubting the LTTE's military durability but obviously guns alone will not solve this largely political problem.
It’s Sri Lankan’s home land.”
Sithum, Please re submit your comment - Ed