SLA recapture Chavakachcheri
[18 September 2000]

Operation Rivikirana III






Operation Rivikirana III launched by the Sri Lanka Army yesterday morning, successfully recaptured Chavalachcheri after a three hour battle causing a major setback for the LTTE terrorists.

The operation was conducted by the army's elite 53 Division comprising Special Forces, Commandos and Air Mobile troops and other elements.

Chavakachcheri area which fell to the LTTE in May was regained after heavy fighting with LTTE and terrorists had subsequently fled when army battalions had marched in to the territory.

The fleeing terrorists were also attacked from the air.

The operation was launched at 8.00 am and according to Army Chief Lt. General Lionel Balagalle the operation had been a huge success.

He said that troops were able to bring down the town under their control by afternoon, within four hours after the operation was launched. He said that the operation was a part of the offensive combined security forces operations aimed at weakening the LTTE in the peninsula and regain areas lost during the late march-May period. 

Four soldiers including an officer were killed in action. Three officers were among 46 soldiers wounded in confrontation, General Balagalle said.

Referring to the large number of terrorists killed he said that yesterday's operation was perhaps the most successful since security forces renewed operations on September 3 with the launch of operation Rivikirana to consolidate army's positions in the vicinity of Jaffna town area.

"We succeeded in hitting their mortar firing positions," he said expressing confidence that the army will be able to maintain pressure on the LTTE in the coming weeks.

General Balagalle further explained that three offensive operations were conducted on the first, the second and the third Sundays of this month.

He said that about 400 terrorists had been killed during this month.

Meanwhile, Airforce headquarters last night said that LTTE targets including several vehicles were engaged during the day in the general area Chavakachcheri and Sangupiddy on the Wanni mainland.

Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte on Tuesday during a visit to headquarters of the army's 51 Division have also urged the army's top brass to intensify operations at a time when LTTE have lost their strength to regain the lost areas.

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