Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive

Thandikulam-Omanthai offensive

Part of the Sri Lankan civil war, Operation Jayasikurui

Date	June 10, 1997 - June 25, 1997
Location	Sri Lanka
Result	Tamil Tiger victory

Belligerents

Military of Sri Lanka

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Casualties and losses

700 killed
1,500 wounded

165 killed

Eelam War III

Jaffna (1995) Riviresa Mullaitivu (1996) Sath Jaya Edibala Vavunathivu Jayasikurui (Thandikulam–Omanthai, Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997)) Rivi bala Kilinochchi (1998) Rana Gosa Oddusuddan Kinihira A-9 highway 2nd Elephant Pass Rivikirana Bandaranaike

Sri Lankan Civil War

Mass graves: Chemmani; Duraiappa; Mirusuvil; Sooriyakanda

Massacres: Black July; 1985 Valvettiturai; Kumudini; Akkaraipattu; Prawn farm; Eastern University; 1990 Batticaloa; 1991 Kokkadichcholai; Jaffna lagoon; Navaly; Nagerkovil-Allaipiddy; Vankalai; Muttur; Kent and Dollar Farm; Anuradhapura; Aranthalawa; Kattankudi mosque; Palliyagodella; Kallarawa; October 1995; Gonagala; Kebithigollewa; Jaffna Hospital; 1989 Valvettiturai

The Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive was a battle for the control of the towns of Thandikulam and Omanthai in Sri Lanka in June 1997.

Battle

The battle began on June 10, 1997 when LTTE fighters attacked the garrison at Thandikulam. They destroyed the bridge on the edge of town so no reinforcements could arrive. While the fighting was raging an arms dump was hit by a rocket, causing a huge explosion that resulted in many casualties. Another dump was also hit shortly after and caused the same result. Helicopter gunships were sent to try and assist the besiedged soldiers, but one of them was badly damaged.^[1] Finally the city fell and the Tigers held it for two days taking anything they could.

13 days later the LTTE attacked the town of Omanthai. To get to Omanthai, they had to go through Periyamadu where 250 Sri Lankan soldiers were stationed. As the Tigers attacked, all of the soldiers were so surprised that they deserted their bunkers and left a gap over 1 km long in the camps perimeter. The Tigers took full advantage of the gap by swarming into Periyamadu and pushing their way deeper and deeper into SLA territory. Within minutes the Tigers had reached the main military base of Omanthai. They headed straight for the artillery cannons. In heavy hand-to-hand combat, the Tigers took the city, capturing six artillery pieces as well as several armoured vehicles.

References

↑ Indian-Subcontinent Database,Sri Lanka, since 1971,Sri Lanka, since 1971

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Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive

Battle

See also

References