Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)

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]

Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)
Part of the Sri Lankan civil war
Operation Jayasikurui
DateDecember 04, 1997
Location
9°3′2.47″N 80°30′53.77″E Kanakarayankulam, Mankulam
Result Tamil Tiger victory
Belligerents
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]

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. "Situation Report". Iqbal Athas. The Sundaytimes. 7 December 1997. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  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. 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. "Blood Is Their Medal The Men Of The Parama Weera Vibushanaya". David Blacker. The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
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