Liberation ‘Rice Bowl’!

Ruwan Weerakoon reporting from Mannar

On June 29, the Sri Lanka Army’s 58th Division liberated what is known as the ‘Mannar Rice Bowl’ which had been in the LTTE grip for 20 years.

Brigadier Shavindra de Silva said at 7:30 p.m. last evening, the 58th Brigade from Pallemadhu links with the 57th Brigade from Periyamadhu. 

The total land area of the rice bowl is 120 sq.km.  

Giant’s Tank and around 153 small tanks situated in this area provide water to the paddy fields in their vicinity.Nearly 20 years ago, Sri Lanka’s biggest paddy crop was harvested from this rice bowl, but all these fertile paddy fields had been covered with LTTE bunkers, landmines, sandbagged trenches and defence lines. Troops are in the process of clearing bunkers, landmines and filling trenches  

Brigadier Shavindra de Silva 58th Division Commander, who commanded the operation to liberate the rice bowl area had this to say: 

‘The battle to liberate the rice bowl was not a cakewalk as we had to implement an effective strategy and adopt suitable tactics, continually monitoring enemy movements.

‘When the enemy fires on the soldiers there is very little cover for them because the ground is open, but our soldiers were able to overcome this disadvantage. 

‘My troops began to advance towards enemy territory on September 27 last year when we launched an offensive with commandos. One brigade advanced from west of Giant’s Tank, the second from Uyilankulam and the third along the A32 Mannar- Pooneryn Road.
‘We implemented a strategy and adopted tactics to draw the enemy towards us and thereafter we were well placed to eliminate them. Our main intention was to kill and wound the maximum number of LTTE cadres. When the Tigers ran short of manpower they sent children to the battlefront. We were able to capture one female cadre who was forcibly recruited by the LTTE. 

An LTTE mass burial ground at Alkaddaveli, Mannar which was liberated

by security forces, after days of fierce fighting

LTTE bunkers and hideouts captured by troops in general area Pappamoddai, Mannar. 

LTTE bunkers and hideouts captured by troops in general area Pappamoddai, Mannar. 

‘When the rainy season started in October our soldiers faced difficulties because the entire area was flooded with places knee-high and waist-high in water. 

‘The Tigers had constructed a series of trenches in front of the LTTE forward defence line. 

‘Four feet from the trench line there were ditches five feet deep and four feet wide.  

During the October to January rainy season, the trenches and ditches were full of water but our soldiers never considered these an obstacle. We implemented effective strategy to over run the above trenches.  

On June 27, 2008 we gained full control over 13 square kilometres in the Andankulam area.  

The next day we made another major break-through capturing the LTTE’s stronghold in Parappakkadanthan, 4 km. north of Giant’s Tank. 

‘This location was used by the LTTE as a firing range for training purposes. 

We advanced further and inflicted decisive blows on the LTTE during multi-pronged attacks launched at fortified defence lines in the general area of Pappamoddai, with my troops confirming 21 Tigers killed in the confrontations. There was heavy fighting at Pappamoddai and in the Neduvarampu general area.  

Pappamoddai is located 12 km south of Vidalaitivu - an LTTE strategic location 8 km north of Mannar - on the Mannar-Pooneryn road. 

On June 26 our soldiers had captured the area between Chalampan and Marattikannadi.  

This is the supply route leading to the Mannar-Pooneryn road. As a result, we cut off the LTTE supply route. This is a tremendous achievement for the Army.  

In this entire battle, we were able to kill 2058 LTTE cadres including their area leaders and Vidusha Brigade women cadres, these figures were confirmed by LTTE transmission and ground troops. The Army handed over 123 LTTE dead bodies to ICRC. 

The LTTE deployed sniper gunmen, laid bobby traps and fixed IEDs to prevent the advancing troops as well as fired 122,130 and152 mm. artillery towards our troops, but Army artillery and the Air Force effectively countered LTTE fire power.’ 

Brigadier Shavindra Silva said his Division, with the assistance of the Artillery Regiment, Armoured Corps and Air Force MI 24 helicopter gunships and fighter jets was able to completely capture the ‘Rice Bowl’ region within eight months bringing under control so many agriculturally fertile villages - Manthai, Mathottam, Adampan, Pallekkuli, Kurukkandankulam, Velankulam, Vaddakkandal, Alankulam, Andankulam, Maratikandal, Alkaddiveli, Parappakandal, Parappukadanthan, Tenvediyan, Minukkulam, Vilayankulam, Parappamoddai and Odduppallam. Our troops have captured Adampan and Parappakandal which is a significant breakthrough for the captured rice bowl. 

There are only 3 km more to Vidalaitivu, a main Sea Tiger base of the LTTE.  

Vidalaitivu is strategically important for the LTTE because the Tigers smuggle fuel, arms and other requirements from South India to Vidalaitivu. Troops are heading towards Vidalaitivu to cut off the South Indian smugglers’ route.  

The 58th Division was formed in September 2007 by Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka. The 58th Division acts purely as an Offensive Division.

The 58th Division consists of four Brigades of Army Commandos and the 581,582 and 583 Brigades.

Forces have recovered 16,948 anti-personnel mines and 96 tank landmines. 

(Courtesy : The Bottom Line )