Battle of Aanandapuram

Battle of Aanandapuram
Part of Sri Lankan Civil War, 2008–2009 SLA Northern offensive Alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War
Date March 29– April 5, 2009 Location Aanandapuram, Sri Lanka Result Decisive Sri Lankan Army victory Territorial changes Aanandapuram area regained by the Government of Sri Lanka
Belligerents
Military of Sri Lanka	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka: Brig Shavendra Silva Maj. Gen Kamal Gunaratne Col G.V. Ravipriya	Velupillai Prabhakaran: Pottu Amman Colonel Theepan Colonel Bhanu
Strength
Sri Lanka Army: 58 Division 53 Division Task Force 8	?
Casualties and losses
	625

The Battle of Aanandapuram was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military, 58 Division, 53 Division and Task Force 8 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the control of the last stronghold held by the LTTE. This battle is a part of the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war. The battle was fought in the Aanandapuram area of Puthukkudiyirippu AGA Sri Lanka.

Build up

Since the start of the northern offensive on 2008 the Srilanka Army had been steadily progressing in multiple fonts. As the LTTE was limited with the both the sufficient man & firepower was gradually withdrawing towards the North East part of the country. Finally they were confined to a small littoral strip of territory located between the A-35 highway (Paranthan-Mullaitheevu road) Nanthikadal and Chalai lagoons on one side and the Indian ocean on the other.

Soldiers numbering more than 50,000 from five divisions and three task forces have besieged the LTTE. The tigers have been trying desperately to break out of this encirclement and drive the forces back. Against this backdrop the LTTE planned to launch a massive counter-offensive against the armed forces. The idea was to conduct a carefully planned operation that would deliver a crippling blow to the security forces.

The Battle

This was an extremely decisive battle in 2008–2009 Sri Lankan Army Northern offensive. LTTE lost most of its major leaders in a single battle and this was the first time such a thing happened in its history.

LTTE casualties

Senior LTTE leaders Killed

• Velayuthapillai Baheerathakumar alias Theepan (Overall commander of the LTTE northern front fighting formations)
• Manickapodi Maheswaran alias Keerthi (Special commander of Jayanthan Infanrty brigade)
• Selvaratnam Sundaram alias Nagesh (Special commander)
• Viduthalai alias Amuthan alias Gaddafi (Bodyguard of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, later a commander of the Imran-Pandian regiment)
• Gopith (Special commander the Charles Anthony infantry brigade)
• Vidhusha (Special commander of Maalathi regiment)
• Kamalini (Second-in-Command of Maalathi regiment)
• Durga (Special commander of Sothia regiment)
• Mohana (Second-in-Command of Sothia regiment)
• Manivannan (Leader of the "Kittu" artillery regiment)
• Gopal (Chief of the "Kutty Sri" mortar regiment)
• Seralaathan (In-charge of the Tiger TV "Nitharsanam")
• S. Thangan (Deputy-political commissar and administrative officer under S. P. Thamilselvan)
• Thamilini (Women's' wing political commissar)
• Senior leaders named Ruban, Panjan, Nehru, Anton, Maankuyil, Amudha, Iniyawan, Aadithyan, Chitrangan and Mahindan.

Senior LTTE leaders captured

• Anbu (Deputy-commander of Radha regiment)
• Asmi (Leader of "Ponnamman" mining unit)

External links

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