28th May 2000

Toops brace to face stepped up attacks

Kankesanturai is the naval port where all military supplies including fuel are unloaded. The SLAF airfield at Palaly, is the only landing area for fixed wing aircraft. Troops are flown and casualties are evacuated from here. This is in addition to emergency supplies being flown in.

Despite the two main life lines 

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, alternative measures to ensure supplies have gone into place. For obvious reasons they cannot be elaborated on except to say these measures have, so far, not curtailed military activity.
 

With no formal response from the Army, the ceasefire appeared unilateral. Yet, troops braced themselves to face any stepped up attacks by the Tigers. On two previous occasions when similar demands were made, and were rejected by the Government, they were followed by a fresh wave of attacks on the troops. Bolstering their position was the arrival of the much awaited military hardware including more Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), artillery, mortars and vast stocks of shells and ammunition.

As I reported last week, Government leaders and military top brass were making a last ditch attempt to save the Jaffna peninsula from falling into Tiger hands.

After an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, with President Chandrika Bandaranaike, in the chair 

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reviewed reports from the battle areas, it became apparent that urgent measures were necessary. They weighed various options and discussed whether Security Forces Commander (North), Major General Janaka Perera, should be asked to fly to Colombo to be briefed on these measures. In view of the heavy responsibilities cast on him in the battlefront, it was decided otherwise.

Deputy Defence Minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte, flew to Jaffna on May 21 together with Commanders of the Army, Navy and the Air Force. They were later joined by General Rohan de S. Daluwatte, Chief of Defence Staff. Minister Ratwatte continues to remain in the peninsula directing some of the counter measures that are being launched by the security forces against the Tigers.

Last Sunday (May 21), Gen. Daluwatte and Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakoddy, flew down to Colombo for a late night meeting with Defence Secretary, Chandrananda de Silva. The next day, the trio met President Chandrika Kumaratunga, for a lengthy meeting at "Temple Trees" where the prevailing situation in the peninsula was discussed in detail.

It appeared that the time factor has become an essential element in the current phases of fighting. War weary troops required the time, both to regroup and resume battles with their newly acquired weaponry. In marked contrast, LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, seemed in a hurry. Despite loss and injuries to cadres, he was throwing wave after wave of young men and women into battle to seek quick victories.

Time and again, senior Army officials in the Jaffna peninsula talked to their men to ensure their morale remained high. They did so both on the radio and by meeting groups of soldiers. The Government also introduced a cash incentive of eighty rupees per day to soldiers. A similar incentive of Rs 100 per day was also being paid to officer cadres deployed in battle in the north.

Having forced 

troops to abandon the sprawling and strategic Elephant Pass defence complex last month, the LTTE has stepped up its military campaign in the peninsula. In what it calls phase three of "Operation Oyatha Alaikal" (Ceaseless Waves), the LTTE has declared its aim is to re-capture the Jaffna peninsula which has remained in Government hands since 1995.

Gaining control of Elephant Pass, the Tigers guerrillas attacked Pallai (nine kilometres north of Elephant Pass) forcing troops to re-adjust their defence lines further northwards to Eluthumaduwal.

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Instead of mounting pressure on this sector, in a surprise move, the LTTE launched attacks on Tanankilappu, Ariyalai and Navatkuli areas. Subsequent attacks on Columbuthurai and the Gurunagar area made it clear they were making a push to seize the Jaffna 

When a continuing curfew was lifted for a few hours, some of the civilians

fled. The troops, to their credit, fought back and have so far thwarted several attempts by the Tigers to move into the town area.

Whilst making a push 

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groups of Tigers also moved in a westerly direction from Navatkuli.

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Further advances towards Sarasalai and adjoining areas have been stalled by troops who fought bitter battles. In one encounter, a Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship flew low to attack an enemy position and was hit by fire. The pilot veered the Mi-24 and made a crash landing in the security forces held area. Both the pilot and the co-pilot escaped miraculously but the two door gunners were killed in the incident.

As battle rages in the peninsula, as reported last week, public attention has focused on the arrival of new weaponry to bolster efforts by the troops. The Special Media Information Centre has admitted that such items have been sent to the north but avoided any mention of what they were.

In fact, even before the fall of the Elephant Pass Defence Complex last April, the Government had done away with tender procedures to procure over 800 million US dollars worth of military hardware for urgent use by the security forces.

As exclusively reported in The Sunday Times of April 30, representatives of manufacturers in seven countries were called for discussions at the Ministry of Defence "on a Government to Government" basis. The countries were Russia, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Iran, Czech Republic, Israel and Singapore.

MOD officials told these suppliers that they were required to "offer a rate which will be valid for a period of one year". They were told that "once the prices are fixed, the armed forces will be placing indents directly with the principal for these items avoiding the need to tender"

A Defence Ministry note (sent through diplomatic channels) to manufacturers/suppliers concerned in their respective countries said "at the above discussion principals are required to attend. Local agents will not be permitted to represent principals".

The move was ostensibly intended to keep the middlemen, who made the commissions, away from the deals. 

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Sri Lanka enters a decisive and crucial week in the 17 year long separatist war. As repeatedly pointed out in these columns, the fate of the Jaffna peninsula now remains on how much more incursions the Tigers would make and how best troops will be able to counter their advance. 

The Fifth Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents