LTTE “forward dumping” ammunition in Pooneryn
Army moves to Silavathura

Now, it has been proved with little doubt that the Tiger artillery bombardment on the Security Forces’ Headquarters Jaffna, using 130 mm long range howitzers placed in Pooneryn was only the tip of the iceberg of a major Tiger build up . Tigers are “forward dumping” heavy weaponry and ammunition in Pooneryne in preparation for a major attack on Jaffna, Intelligence sources have warned.

An increase in guerrilla activities in Pooneryne have been monitored during the past several weeks and regular movement of heavy guns and ammunition cargoes to Pooneryne have been observed. Concerns in the military establishment is that guerrillas could attack the security forces’ forward defence localities in Nagar Kovil, Muhamalai and Eluthumattuwal, reminiscent to the major guerrilla onslaught on the FDL in August last year, which, however, proved to be a fatal miscalculation for the LTTE.

The general practice of the LTTE, which lacks machinery, towing trucks and vehicles for a rapid transport of heavy weaponry is that heavy guns and ammunition are transported to the theatre during the preparatory stage and stored in specially made ammo dumps and artillery pits.

Greater mobility

This also provides the Tigers with a greater mobility, by relieving them of the tiresome and exhaustive task of transporting ammunitions and towing artillery howitzers with them. This is also in line with a key tactic employed by the guerrillas. i.e. to avoid the concentration of fighters, in order to avoid air attacks. Guerrillas paid special attention to avoid concentration of their cadres during the Unceasing Wave III, which overran the Elephant Pass Military Garrison. That was following the heavy exposure of Tiger guerrillas into MI 24 attack helicopters during the previous major offensive.

Once military supplies and logistics are in a place closer to the battle front, it is a matter of hours that would take for guerrilla cadres to move to the battle front, without much buzz, with whatever assault rifles, light machine guns, RPGs, etc.

The LTTE is known for the high mobility of its cadres, which is, of course, characteristic of any guerrilla movement. Right now, guerrilla reservists are in Kilinochchi, who could be mobilized in a matter of hours to either side of guerrilla defence lines.

During any major offensive on the security forces’ northern defence lines, Pooneryne would function as a main artillery launching pad. That is because, only the tip of Pooneryne, known as Kalmunai Point falls within the 27 km radius from the Security Forces’ Headquarters in Palaly and Kankasanhurai harbour. 27 km is the firing range of the 130 km artillery gun. The LTTE is believed to have at least four 130 mm howitzers. These are part of the Tiger armory of over twenty 122 artillery guns and eighty 120 mm heavy mortars dubbed arti-mortars. However, last week, we raised concerns that guerrillas could have fired from the interior of Pooneryne, using Extended Range Artillery Projectiles, which enhance the distance and precision. With the use of Extended Range of Artillery Shells, the firing range of a 130 mm artillery could be enhanced up to 38 km. Though the LTTE is not known to use this particular variety of artillery ammunition, now the possibility of guerrillas possessing them is explored by the military top brass.

Eyeing Jaffna

Though, guerrillas have beefed up their presence in the defence lines in the Wanni and Weli Oya, their eyes are firmly on Jaffna. Any major Tiger offensive would be waged for Jaffna, even though the threat of a limited offensive in the form of counter attack on the troops operating in Wanni and Weli Oya is equally high. However, the LTTE is not in a position to sustain gains or hold the ground which it could capture in the Wanni, which is linked with a direct supply route, thereby enabling the security forces to send reinforcement and extra defence supplies. Whereas, should the Tigers succeed grounding flights at the Palali runway and operations at the KKS harbour, the security forces in the Jaffna peninsula would be brought under a virtual siege.

Given the positioning of defence lines of the two parties, it was only the tip of Pooneryne, which falls within the 27 km radius of the SFHQ, Jaffna. But should the Tigers succeed advancing their defence line up to Kodikamam by pushing back troops in Nagar Kovil and Muhamalai, that would enable a greater maneuverability to the guerrilla artillery.

Guerrilla strategy in the Jaffna peninsula is one of infiltration and sabotage. On August 29, troops attacked a group of guerrillas who attempted to infiltrate the forward defence line at Muhamalai, killing seven LTTE cadres, Government’s Media Centre for National Security said . It further said that troops have found nine land mines along with military gear during the subsequent search operation in the area. In another incident early this week, troops killed three guerrillas who attempted to infiltrate the government controlled areas in the peninsula.

These are part of stepped up infiltration attempts by the guerrillas, who seem to be trying to renew attack in the peninsula. Tiger cadres who infiltrate the peninsula could also function as forward observers for the LTTE providing target information for indirect fire during a future LTTE offensive. Whilst, laying the preparatory work for a major attack, the LTTE is also digging for a stiff defence at its northern defence lines. The lull in the fighting since the capture of the East, it was feared, could be used by the LTTE to go for an offensive.

Limited operations

This required the security forces to continue with limited operations, thereby keeping the Tigers occupied in a defensive role. At the crack of dawn of last Friday, troops broke away from their forward defence localities in Mullikulam, west of Omanthai. Operating in small groups, they conducted a lightning assault on the well entrenched forward defence line of the Tigers, taking the enemy by surprise. In the wee hours, soldiers stormed two guerrilla bunkers which functioned as command bunkers
Their mission: to breach the guerrilla forward line, thus opening the ground for the advance of the troops towards Mankulam.

Mullikulam was the theatre for the fierce battle three months ago when the LTTE fought to halt a military push into the Wanni, forcing the troops to vacate certain areas, which had been newly captured by the troops. That had been a watershed attack by the guerrillas, who fought back fiercely, after a few months of lethargy on the part of the LTTE.Following the counter attack, conducted on June 5, Tiger guerrillas dug deep in the ground, fortified their bunkers and sent reinforcement to the theatre west of Omanthai and east of Madhu.

Surprise

The pre-dawn raid took the guerrillas by surprise. Heavy fighting broke up as Tiger cadres, well entrenched in heavily fortified bunkers put up a stiff resistance. Sustained Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher(MBRL) and artillery attack were dirrected at the identified guerrilla positions, based on target information by the advancing troops.

By morning, troops captured two command bunkers of guerrillas, killing 11 cadres. The LTTE casualty figures could not be independently verified. Nine soldiers were wounded in the action, according to a military official. Army said eight T 56 assault rifles were recovered.

Army, initially, did not reveal the military gains. Reason: Army suspected a counter attack by guerrillas, who have hitherto offered a stiff resistance, which virtually halted the advance of the security forces into the Wanni since the guerrilla counter attack in the first week of June. During the past several months, the security forces had succeeded, forcing guerrillas into a defensive posture. Friday’s limited offensive was part of the greater military strategy to keep the LTTE under check, thereby minimizing the threat of an offensive by guerrillas.

Sustained military operations in the East beginning from Sampur and culminating with the capture of Thoppigala, enabled the security forces to keep the guerrillas occupied in a defensive role. However, the recent lull in the military operations, as military and civil intelligence indicate, could enable a shift in the LTTE strategy into an offensive.

Troops opened a new front in the wee hours of yesterday, advancing into Silavathura, a Tiger controlled jungle patch below the strategically important Mannar town. Commandos advanced stealthily into the Tiger territory and fighting broke up as guerrillas put up resistance,. six civilians were injured in a land mine blast. Military action in Silavathura envisages to force guerrillas out of the terrain in the South of Mannar- Vavuniya road. Military feared that the LTTE could use its hold in Silavathura to cut off Mannar town from Vavuniya.

Guerrillas held jungle hideout on both sides of the Mannar- Vavuniya road. Concerns of the security forces was that the Tigers could try to cut off Mannar by a simultaneous attack on security forces positions on both sides of the road in order to divert troops during a decisive stage of military operations in the Wanni.

Silavathura is also the main launching pad of the sea Tiger boats in the North Western Coast. The capture of Silavathura by the security forces could neutralize the sea Tiger activities in the North Western sea.

Meanwhile, the Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe is tipped to be the Defence Advisor to the Sri Lankan High Commission in United Kingdom. Brigadier Samarasinghe will be succeeded by Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara,who functions as the Security Forces’ Commander.

Brigadier Samarasinghe, who assumed duties as the Military Spokesman when the North-East conflict was at crossroad, at a time when the peace process was stalled and a full blown war was about to break up.

Brigadier Samarasinghe could survive all odds and managed to sustain a greater degree of credibility as the spokesman of the military matters, which is a commendable achievement in any measure, especially in the context in which many a political spokesman in the government, which numbers nearly half a dozen now, have lost credibility.

Meanwhile, three senior military officials left for China to follow the National Defence College Course (NDC) at the prestigious Chinese National Defence College. They were former 23 Division Commander Major Gen. Daya Ratnayake, former 53 Division Commander Major Gen Srinath Rajapaksa and Navy Director of Operation Rear Admiral Thusith Wickremesinghe. Major Gen. Ratnayake was instrumental in overseeing the security forces capture of guerrilla enclave in Vakarai and Kathiravelu. Former 514 Brigade Commander Brigadier Dampath Fernando has been appointed as the 23 Division Commander vacated by Major Gen Ratnayake.

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