Sri Lanka’s military launched at least three localised offensives against the Liberation Tigers in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts. In the bloodiest clash on September 6, 18 elite commandos and Army-backed paramilitaries were killed and 25 wounded.
That offensive by troops from the Special Task Force (STF) camp at Kanjirankudah STF camp in Amparai district towards the LTTE-controlled Kanchikudicharu area, was repulsed after six hours of fighting. There were no LTTE casualties.
The LTTE’s Special Commander, Ram, and Amparai Commander, Stanley, coordinated the defensive operation repulsing the STF offensive.
Civilian access to Akkaraipattu hospital remained blocked as bodies of STF and paramilitary men were taken to the hospital till the bodies and wounded were transferred to Colombo.
A spokesman attached to the Colombo office of the Army-backed paramilitary Karuna Group, claiming that they had captured LTTE territory and said one of their cadres was killed and five wounded.
The artillery shells from Kanjirankuda and Thandiyady STF camps hit LTTE controlled Kanjikudichcharu, Pavatta and Rufus Camp areas, damaging a shop and two houses. Shelling began the night before the offensive.
Within a week, on September 12, the LTTE repelled another attack in which STF troops supported by artillery fire attempted to move towards LTTE held areas from Kaluwanchchikudy-Paddiruppu Bridge.
STF artillery shells exploded in the villages Palugamam, Porativu and Munaitivu in the LTTE held areas. Five women were injured. They were first admitted to Mahiladitivu hospital in the LTTE held area and later transferred to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the government-controlled town.
That offensive was also aborted, but the exchange of artillery between the STF and LTTE lasted for about three hours.
The most recent offensive was on Monday September 18, when Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops attempted to move from ‘Karuthapaalam’ (Black Bridge) in Chenkalady, 15km north of Batticaloa, through Badulla road in to areas held by the LTTE.
The offensive was launched at 2.30 a.m. but the SLA soldiers returned to their positions after they were attacked by LTTE fighters. Both sides exchanged rocket fire till 4.30 a.m.
Rockets fired by the SLA troops hit villages of Karadiyanaru , Ilupaiadychenai and Pankudaveli, forcing hundres of civilians to seek refuge in safer areas. They returned to their homes, later in the morning.