Muhamalai Forward Defence Line
Encyclopedia
The Muhamalai Forward Defence Line was the Army Defence Line separating the Sri Lankan Army
and LTTE
militia in North Central Kilinochchi
from South Central Jaffna
. The distance between the first line of defences ranges from 200 to 600 meters. Sri Lankan soldiers captured the 1st Forward Defence Line (FDL) Mukamalaai and Kilali 20 November 2008 at about 5:00AM, pushing the LTTE lines 800m southward.
, because of the unique topography it is very difficult for either of the fighting forces to advance through enemy defence lines and destroy the enemy bunkers. This can be seen from the fact that for the past several years, after hundreds of battles and being the most active front in the Sri Lankan Civil War
, the Defence positions have hardly moved either way. In almost all the occasions, the side trying to overrun enemy defence lines have suffered heavy casualties. The importance of Muhamalai lies in the fact that the Kandy-Jaffna Highway passes through the Muhamalai FDL. If SLA takes control of Muhamalai, then they will obtain a crucial land supply route. The LTTE have around 1,800 militiamen in Muhamalai and Nagarcoil. The SLA strength is several thousands. Elephant Pass
, another strategic location lies to the South of Muhamalai. Unlike the other FDLs north of Mannar
(Where large numbers of Eastern and Mannar Tamils are present) and Southern Vanni
, LTTE cadres in these two FDLs consist mostly of Jaffna Tamils. LTTE positions. For the past several years Muhamalai FDL is the most active FDL in Sri Lankan Civil War (Despite being static for the entire time) and it is the location where a huge part of the casualties have occurred.
For the past seven years, the SLA has tried several times to break through the Kilali-Muhamalai-Nagarkovil defence line and reach Elephant Pass
, which is the gateway to the Vanni; but every time, it has had to retreat, suffering heavy losses in men and material (Especially armoured carriers and tanks). The geography of Muhamalai has been against the SLA but has suited the well-entrenched LTTE. The battle field is in a narrow isthmus
in between sections of the Jaffna Lagoon
. There is no room for manoeuvre here, which makes the place a death trap. The terrain is unsuitable for tanks. This explains the large number of tanks the SLA have lost in this region to LAW
fire. The LTTE not only mines the area extensively, sometimes using the powerful Monster mine to blow up tanks, but also digs trenches and large pits, and camouflages them so that troops, armour and vehicles fall into them. The Tigers typically avoid man-to-man fighting in this narrow area so as not to get trapped themselves, but use long distance weapons like mortars and artillery. Stories of battles in the Muhamalai sector are of a pattern. On April 25, 2001, the 52, 53 and 55 Divisions fought their way through to occupy two square kilometers of LTTE-held territory in the Kilali-Eluthumaduval sector. But they had to retreat in disarray after a 72-hour-long battle, losing 300 to 500 men. The LTTE had allowed them to get into a cul-de-sac
only to set upon them mercilessly from three sides. In October 2006, there was another determined bid to break through Muhamalai, but a well-entrenched LTTE thwarted the move and destroyed or damaged six armoured vehicles, four T-55 tanks and two BMPs and killed 130 army men.
In the last months the focus of the conflict has shifted from the Northern Defense Lines to other fronts, mainly the Mannar front, where the SLA has successfully routed the LTTE, liberating extensive zones. As a result, the SLA has adopted guerrilla tactics
to deal with the LTTE presence in Jaffna, with extensive and successful use of sniper and hit and run tactics.
Over 50 LTTE tigers were killed and many were injured. 10 Sri Lankan Soildiers died and 30 were injured.Troops were fighting since Saturday, February 14.
The 2nd existing LTTE’s Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Muhamale, was completely overrun and captured by Sri Lankan Army Tuesday 6 January 2009.
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...
and LTTE
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
militia in North Central Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna...
from South Central Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. The distance between the first line of defences ranges from 200 to 600 meters. Sri Lankan soldiers captured the 1st Forward Defence Line (FDL) Mukamalaai and Kilali 20 November 2008 at about 5:00AM, pushing the LTTE lines 800m southward.
Overview
Although it is wider than the Nagarcoil FDLNagarcoil Forward Defence Line
The Nagarcoil Forward Defence Line was an Army Defence Line that separated Sri Lankan Army and LTTE militia in Northeastern Kilinochchi - Southestern Jaffna border. The unique topography of the area was believed to make it almost impossible for either of the two sides to push for a military...
, because of the unique topography it is very difficult for either of the fighting forces to advance through enemy defence lines and destroy the enemy bunkers. This can be seen from the fact that for the past several years, after hundreds of battles and being the most active front in the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
, the Defence positions have hardly moved either way. In almost all the occasions, the side trying to overrun enemy defence lines have suffered heavy casualties. The importance of Muhamalai lies in the fact that the Kandy-Jaffna Highway passes through the Muhamalai FDL. If SLA takes control of Muhamalai, then they will obtain a crucial land supply route. The LTTE have around 1,800 militiamen in Muhamalai and Nagarcoil. The SLA strength is several thousands. Elephant Pass
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....
, another strategic location lies to the South of Muhamalai. Unlike the other FDLs north of Mannar
Mannar, Sri Lanka
Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior...
(Where large numbers of Eastern and Mannar Tamils are present) and Southern Vanni
Vanni (Sri Lanka)
The Vanni is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It covers the entirety of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and most of Kilinochchi District. It has an area of approximately 7,650 km2...
, LTTE cadres in these two FDLs consist mostly of Jaffna Tamils. LTTE positions. For the past several years Muhamalai FDL is the most active FDL in Sri Lankan Civil War (Despite being static for the entire time) and it is the location where a huge part of the casualties have occurred.
2008 Offensive
On April 21, 2008 Sri Lankan Army launched a major offensive towards Muhamalai FDL with the help of tanks and artillery. SLA over-ran the first-line-of-defence lines held by the LTTE cadres, forcing the militiamen to withdraw to their second line of defence. But the LTTE militia engaged in heavy mortar and RPG fire from their new positions towards the weakly defended former first line of defence, where the SLA troops got trapped. Close to 15 SLA soldiers and 52 LTTE militiamen died in the attack according to Defencenet http://news.aol.com/story/_a/military-says-52-rebels-15-soldiers/n20080423051709990012 and 176 SLA soldiers and 25 militiamen died according to the LTTE. The Army claimed that their forward defence line was extended by 500 meters after the battle http://news.aol.com/story/_a/military-says-52-rebels-15-soldiers/n20080423051709990012, but the Tamils refuted this claim and even showed pictures of dead soldiers lying scattered in the bunkers in first line of defence. As of April 24 2008, SLA have so far handed over 6 militia dead bodies and LTTE have handed over 28 army dead bodies to the Red Cross.For the past seven years, the SLA has tried several times to break through the Kilali-Muhamalai-Nagarkovil defence line and reach Elephant Pass
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 is the gateway to the Vanni; but every time, it has had to retreat, suffering heavy losses in men and material (Especially armoured carriers and tanks). The geography of Muhamalai has been against the SLA but has suited the well-entrenched LTTE. The battle field is in a narrow isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
in between sections of the Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna lagoon is a large lagoon off Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, northern Sri Lanka.The lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated Jaffna peninsula containing palmyra palms, coconut plantations, and rice paddies. There are numerous fishing villages and some salt pans.The lagoon has...
. There is no room for manoeuvre here, which makes the place a death trap. The terrain is unsuitable for tanks. This explains the large number of tanks the SLA have lost in this region to LAW
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War...
fire. The LTTE not only mines the area extensively, sometimes using the powerful Monster mine to blow up tanks, but also digs trenches and large pits, and camouflages them so that troops, armour and vehicles fall into them. The Tigers typically avoid man-to-man fighting in this narrow area so as not to get trapped themselves, but use long distance weapons like mortars and artillery. Stories of battles in the Muhamalai sector are of a pattern. On April 25, 2001, the 52, 53 and 55 Divisions fought their way through to occupy two square kilometers of LTTE-held territory in the Kilali-Eluthumaduval sector. But they had to retreat in disarray after a 72-hour-long battle, losing 300 to 500 men. The LTTE had allowed them to get into a cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
only to set upon them mercilessly from three sides. In October 2006, there was another determined bid to break through Muhamalai, but a well-entrenched LTTE thwarted the move and destroyed or damaged six armoured vehicles, four T-55 tanks and two BMPs and killed 130 army men.
In the last months the focus of the conflict has shifted from the Northern Defense Lines to other fronts, mainly the Mannar front, where the SLA has successfully routed the LTTE, liberating extensive zones. As a result, the SLA has adopted guerrilla tactics
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
to deal with the LTTE presence in Jaffna, with extensive and successful use of sniper and hit and run tactics.
Further events
Sri Lankan Soildiers captured the 1st Forward Defence Line (FDL) Mukamalaai and Kilali 20 November 2008 at about 5:00AM, pushing the LTTE lines 800m southward.Over 50 LTTE tigers were killed and many were injured. 10 Sri Lankan Soildiers died and 30 were injured.Troops were fighting since Saturday, February 14.
The 2nd existing LTTE’s Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Muhamale, was completely overrun and captured by Sri Lankan Army Tuesday 6 January 2009.