First Battle of Elephant Pass
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of Elephant Pass was a battle fought in July 1991 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base of Elephant Pass
, which was of strategic importance as it linked the northern mainland known as Wanni with the Jaffna Peninsula.
stationed in the base were trapped, yet led by Major (later Major General) Sanath Karunaratne fought on. The assault came from the south. On the first day the LTTE captured a few bunkers held by Sri Lankan troops. The LTTE used in the attack steel plated earth moving vehicles and tractors. They fired hundreds of mortar rounds on the positions of the armed forces. By the next day the second-in-command of the base was killed in a mortar attack.
Helicopters were not able to land at the base because of heavy enemy fire. Eventually, the Rest House camp in the southern sector of the base, fell into the hands of the LTTE. Sustaining heavy losses, the Sri Lankan troops fell back to the rear positions.
As dusk fell the LTTE cadres launched several attacks. Flanked by hundreds of their armed cadres, they surrounded the Army's fortifications. But the sight of a hitherto unknown bulldozer covered with armored plates looking like a huge tank sent shock waves among soldiers at all sentry points as the huge bulldozer tank was a mystery to all on guard.Equipped with a machine gun atop it and containing a haul of arms and ammunition inside it rumbled towards the southern entrance of the camp and Lance Corporal Gamini Kularatne
in his pensive mood thought this new rolling weapon would definitely be able to swarm the garrison within seconds taking a heavy toll of his fellowmen.Suddenly Lance Corporal Kularatne, holding two grenades in his hands, dashed out towards the incoming bulldozer tank, clambered up the tank's ladder and tossed the two grenades inside it. The tank exploded and Gamini Kularatne
was killed instantly. He was awarded the
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
(Equivalent to medal of honor in USA) highest medal awarded to on service men in srilanka.
With the heavy losses in men and material, the troops finally reached the Elephant Pass base, on the evening of August 3. The fighting continued until August 9, when finally the LTTE made a tactical withdrawal. The LTTE suffered 573 Tigers killed according to Tamil sources, but according to SLA sources over 1,000 of them were killed. The Army had 202 dead according to government sources, but according to LTTE sources over 400 were killed. Estimates in later years put the number of dead on both sides to be 2,000 killed. The president called the battle the 'Mother of all Battles'. However, eight and a half years later the base was attacked again and that time the Tigers overran and took the base. And after another eight and half years the Sri Lankan Army
took control of the base (Third Battle of Elephant Pass
)in there northern offensive which ended on May 2009 completely destroying the LTTE.
Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
, which was of strategic importance as it linked the northern mainland known as Wanni with the Jaffna Peninsula.
The battle
On July 10, 1991, the LTTE launched a massive attack at Elephant Pass. The battle for Elephant Pass was up till then the most violent and bloody confrontation that ever took place between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army. The LTTE had previously surrounded the base and blocked off routes north and south so no reinforcements could come in. Also at the beginning of July the LTTE moved anti-aircraft guns close to the base so no helicopters can bring in supplies. Thus the 800 troops of the 6th battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha RegimentSri Lanka Sinha Regiment
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarter battalion...
stationed in the base were trapped, yet led by Major (later Major General) Sanath Karunaratne fought on. The assault came from the south. On the first day the LTTE captured a few bunkers held by Sri Lankan troops. The LTTE used in the attack steel plated earth moving vehicles and tractors. They fired hundreds of mortar rounds on the positions of the armed forces. By the next day the second-in-command of the base was killed in a mortar attack.
Helicopters were not able to land at the base because of heavy enemy fire. Eventually, the Rest House camp in the southern sector of the base, fell into the hands of the LTTE. Sustaining heavy losses, the Sri Lankan troops fell back to the rear positions.
As dusk fell the LTTE cadres launched several attacks. Flanked by hundreds of their armed cadres, they surrounded the Army's fortifications. But the sight of a hitherto unknown bulldozer covered with armored plates looking like a huge tank sent shock waves among soldiers at all sentry points as the huge bulldozer tank was a mystery to all on guard.Equipped with a machine gun atop it and containing a haul of arms and ammunition inside it rumbled towards the southern entrance of the camp and Lance Corporal Gamini Kularatne
Gamini Kularatne
Corporal Gamini Kularatne PWV, SLSR , called the Hasalaka Hero , was a Sri Lankan soldier. He was the first recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the highest award for gallantry awarded by the Sri Lanka Army.- Early life :Gamini Kularatne was the second son of a family of four brothers and...
in his pensive mood thought this new rolling weapon would definitely be able to swarm the garrison within seconds taking a heavy toll of his fellowmen.Suddenly Lance Corporal Kularatne, holding two grenades in his hands, dashed out towards the incoming bulldozer tank, clambered up the tank's ladder and tossed the two grenades inside it. The tank exploded and Gamini Kularatne
Gamini Kularatne
Corporal Gamini Kularatne PWV, SLSR , called the Hasalaka Hero , was a Sri Lankan soldier. He was the first recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the highest award for gallantry awarded by the Sri Lanka Army.- Early life :Gamini Kularatne was the second son of a family of four brothers and...
was killed instantly. He was awarded the
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya , is the highest Sri Lankan military decoration equivalent to the British Victoria Cross , or the United States Medal of Honor, that's awarded as a reward for all ranks of the tri services individual acts of gallantry...
(Equivalent to medal of honor in USA) highest medal awarded to on service men in srilanka.
Operation Balavegaya
Fierce fighting continued for four days before a rescue force was sent. A huge force of 10,000 soldiers was sent to reinforce the Sri Lankan Army. An amphibious landing was conducted at Vettilaikerni, which was just 12 kilometers east of the base. However, much resistance was encountered from the Tigers, due to which it took them 18 days to reach the Elephant Pass base.With the heavy losses in men and material, the troops finally reached the Elephant Pass base, on the evening of August 3. The fighting continued until August 9, when finally the LTTE made a tactical withdrawal. The LTTE suffered 573 Tigers killed according to Tamil sources, but according to SLA sources over 1,000 of them were killed. The Army had 202 dead according to government sources, but according to LTTE sources over 400 were killed. Estimates in later years put the number of dead on both sides to be 2,000 killed. The president called the battle the 'Mother of all Battles'. However, eight and a half years later the base was attacked again and that time the Tigers overran and took the base. And after another eight and half years the Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
took control of the base (Third Battle of Elephant Pass
Third Battle of Elephant Pass
In the Third battle of Elephant Pass, Elephant Pass was recaptured from the Tamil Tigers by the security forces of the Sri Lankan Army.Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka declared that Elephant Pass was captured by the army on January 9, 2009....
)in there northern offensive which ended on May 2009 completely destroying the LTTE.
See also
- Second Battle of Elephant PassSecond Battle of Elephant PassThe Second Battle of Elephant Pass , was a battle fought in April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base in Elephant Pass, Jaffna....
- Third Battle of Elephant PassThird Battle of Elephant PassIn the Third battle of Elephant Pass, Elephant Pass was recaptured from the Tamil Tigers by the security forces of the Sri Lankan Army.Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka declared that Elephant Pass was captured by the army on January 9, 2009....
- List of Sri Lankan Civil War battles
- Gamini KularatneGamini KularatneCorporal Gamini Kularatne PWV, SLSR , called the Hasalaka Hero , was a Sri Lankan soldier. He was the first recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the highest award for gallantry awarded by the Sri Lanka Army.- Early life :Gamini Kularatne was the second son of a family of four brothers and...
- Second Battle of Elephant PassSecond Battle of Elephant PassThe Second Battle of Elephant Pass , was a battle fought in April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base in Elephant Pass, Jaffna....
- Third Battle of Elephant PassThird Battle of Elephant PassIn the Third battle of Elephant Pass, Elephant Pass was recaptured from the Tamil Tigers by the security forces of the Sri Lankan Army.Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka declared that Elephant Pass was captured by the army on January 9, 2009....