Mannar war theatre: So near, yet so far

The mainland areas in the north-western district of Mannar, has become the primary theatre of war in recent times. The island of Mannar from which the district derives its name is under government control.

Though the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) maintains a clandestine presence in Mannar island, the Tigers never established territorial control over it mainly due to the naval installations at Thalaimannar and the military base in Thalladdy.

The intense fighting going on now is in the hinterland areas of Mannar district and along border areas of adjacent Vavuniya district. The 57th and 58th divisions of the Army are deployed in the arena of conflict to defeat and dislodge the LTTE from their positions.

There are two short-term and two long-term strategic objectives for the Armed forces in Mannar.

These fall within the overall aim of establishing full control over the entire Mannar district. In terms of landmass the LTTE controls the greater part of the district now.

The two long - term objectives of the Army are: a) to destroy the Sea Tiger bases in the coastal areas of Vidathaltheevu and Naachikudaa and b) to establish full control of the littoral along Mannar - Pooneryn road.

If and when the armed forces manage to eradicate LTTE sea power off the shores of Mannar district and take over the Mannar - Pooneryn road and littoral areas, several advantages would be gained. Firstly the maritime supply route from Tamil Nadu could be restricted if not stopped altogether. Presently the LTTE gets most of its fuel, medicine, dry ration food and materials for explosive devices etc. from India. Secondly, it would be possible to establish a land - based route to Jaffna peninsula. Transport could be along the Mannar-Pooneryn road and from there by the short - distance ferry between Sangupiddy and Keratheevu. Thirdly government writ over the Mannar littoral would facilitate off - shore exploration for oil in the Mannar gulf basin.

Fourthly taking control of Pooneryn can eliminate the threat to Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE artillery battery located in the Kalmunai -Nagathevanthurai areas of Pooneryn. The Tigers are able to target even the Palaly base from Pooneryn.

Fifthly the armed forces can use Pooneryn as a launching pad for further ground movements into Tiger territory.

If troops move east and reach Paranthan they have three further options:

1)Move further east by south - east along the axis of Paranthan - Mullaitheevu road;

2) Move up north towards Elephant Pass;

3) Move down south towards Kilinochchi.

If abolishing Sea Tiger bases in Vidathaltheevu - Naachikudaa and acquiring the Mannar - Pooneryn road are the two long - term goals, the two short - term targets are Adampan and Maruthamadhu known generally as Madhu.

Adampan is of military importance while Madhu has political significance

Madhu is a magnet to thousands of devotees, due to the famous Catholic Church dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It is called Sebamalai Matha Thevaalayam or Madhu Maatha koyil in Tamil.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a devout Buddhist but the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is a Catholic. Shortly before his Presidential election campaign in 2005 Rajapaksa wished to go to the Madhu church with his wife. Since the Madhu church is in LTTE controlled territory, “permission” was sought from the Tigers for the visit. Rajapaksa was Prime Minister then.

The LTTE laid down the condition that once inside LTTE territory, Rajapaksa should dispense with his security detail and rely only on Tiger escort. This was unacceptable and the idea of a Madhu visit was aborted.

The issue however rankled in Mahinda’s mind. During his election campaign he often referred to the fact that though he was Prime Minister he was not allowed to visit some parts of the country.

After assuming the Presidency one of Rajapaksa’s achievements was his visit to the Vatican with the First Lady and his audience with his Holiness Pope Benedict.

The question of Madhu church transpired during the Papal audience. It was emphasised that the church should not come to any harm during the on going war.

It may be recalled that the shelling of Madhu Church when Chandrika Kumaratunga was President created an international controversy. Both the Tigers and Army blamed each other for the damage caused to the church. President Rajapaksa had to explain during his visit to the Vatican, that the Madhu church was not under government writ. He gave an assurance that no harm would come either to the church or pilgrims while military operations were in progress.

Military activity in Mannar district escalated after the entire eastern province was captured in July last year. A noteworthy aspect of the fighting in Mannar was the ostensible focus on the area surrounding Madhu church. The security forces conducted several operations to infiltrate Tiger territory and encircle the areas surrounding Madhu church. The Tigers were expected to fade away in such a situation.

The security forces to their credit have been taking much precautionary measures to avoid any damage to Madhu church. One reason for the slow progress by the armed forces in taking Madhu is due to this excessive caution. This has provided the LTTE with an “unfair” advantage as the Tigers remain in the vicinity of the church though not on actual church premises.

The military gain in capturing Madhu does not seem to be much but the political and symbolical value is great. Besides members of the First Family, many southern Catholics would love to do a pilgrimage and worship at Madhu.

The Madhu victory was played up during an election campaign in President Kumaratunga’s time. If southern pilgrims are able to visit Madhu safely in large numbers it would no doubt enhance President Rajapaksa’s prestige further.

If Madhu is politically significant for these reasons, then Adampan is important militarily due to other considerations.

The name Adampan is derived from Adampu (Ipomoea pes-caprae or Ipomoea biloba) a creeper bearing deep green leaves and rose, violet or blue flowers.

It is known as Bin - tampuru or Muhudu - bin - tambara in Sinhala and Beach Morning Glory or Goat’s Foot Creeper.

The Adampu plant and its flower “Adumpan poo” are widely referred to in classical Tamil poetry of the Sangham vintage. Adampan kodiyum thira’ndaal midukku’ (even the fragile Adampan creeper is strong when the growth is dense) is a popular saying in Tamil to mean ‘unity is strength’.

There are many Tamil place - names in the north and east called Adampan or a related name. In the Gomarankadawela AGA division in Trincomalee there is a place called Adampana in Sinhala.
Whatever its origins, the name Adampan has become well - known in recent times due to constant references about it in news reports of the war.

Earlier Uyilankulam was the entry-exit point into LTTE controlled territory from govt controlled territory in Mannar district. It is now closed.

Adampan is about 10 km to the north of Uyilankulam. Adampan is to the north of the Mannar - Vavuniya road or A - 14 highway; it is to the east of the Mannar - Pooneryn road or A - 32 highway

Adampan is not a big place, but it is the premier town in the Manthai West AGA division of Mannar. Apart from the AGA office and Divisional Secretariat, there is also in Adampan a base hospital.

Adampan’s militaristic value stems from the fact that it is a key junction. Though not highways, the two roads crisscrossing through Adampan junction are of a certain strategic importance.

One road is between Periyamadhu on the Mannar - Pooneryn road and Uyilankulam on the Mannar - Vavuniya road. (This Periyamadhu is different from the place with the same name in the north - west of Madhu.)

The other begins from Manthai - Thirukketheeswaram and proceeds eastwards through Adampan , Aandaankulam, Aatkaativeli etc to Maruthamadhu or Madhu.

Though Adampan and its junction are within reach of the army’s artillery, physical occupation of the area would provide two military gains. One is that Adampan could be a significant stepping stone or first phase in the inevitable ground - based drive towards the LTTE Sea Tiger base in Vidathaltheevu. The other is that it would help to interdict the easiest supply route to LTTE cadres stationed to the south of Madhu and the north and east of Kattujjaraikulam or Giants Tank.

The fall of Adampan will not prevent supply to the LTTE frontlines but can certainly curtail it to some extent.

The 58th Division commanded by Brig. Shavindra de Silva is targeting Adampan in a three - pronged military push.

The 58 -1 Brigade started off from Uyilankulam and proceeded via the west and north - west of Kattukkaraikulam (Yodha - Ela) and has reached Parappaankandal. Presently the 58 - 1 Brigade is about 1. 5 km to the south - east of Adampan.

The 58-2 Brigade commenced its push from Manthai to the west of Adampan. It has moved forward through villages like Narikkulam, Setrukulam, Vannankulam etc and is now at Viathaankulam which is roughly about 800 - 1000 metres away from Adampan junction.

The 58 - 3 Brigade also started out from Uyilankulam. Troops moved along an axis to the west of the Uyilankulam - Adampan road and took the village of Neelachenai first and then Paalaiootru which is two km to the west of Adampan.

Just as the 58th division is advancing towards Adampan in three directions the 57th division targeting Madhu is also engaged in tri-partite movement.

The 57th Division commanded by Brig. Jagath Dias is staging operations in the Vavuniya west - Mannar east areas. The 57 - 1 Brigade started out from Iranaiiluppaikulam and has Palampitty to the north of Madhu as its primary objective. Some of the Tiger artillery is located in Palampitty.

On the road to Palampitty, the 57 - 1 has taken Mullikulam (different to Mullikulam on the Mannar - Puttalam border) and is located there now. I am not sure of how far it is from Madhu..

From the south of Madhu, the 57 - 2 Brigade has progressed to some extent. The 57 - 2 has taken Thambanai, Periyathambanai and is now at Periya Pandivirichaan. This is about 4 km away from Madhu.

In another north - bound push the 57 - 3 Brigade has taken Vilaathikulam. It is now trying to go further north towards Madhu. Again I do not know the distance from Vilaathikulam to Madhu The fighting has been intense and ground positions have see - sawed. The gains made by the armed forces have come after protracted fighting for many months.

The “Rana Ghosa” operations during the Kumaratunga regime succeeded in capturing more Tiger territory in the Mannar district including Madhu within a very short time

The Tigers have put in much men and material to conduct a defensive war. Top Tiger leaders like Bhanu, Jeyam, Sornam, Ramesh, Amithab, Vidusha, Letchumanan and Velavan are in the front. Cadres of the Charles Anthony and Jeyanthan infantry divisions along with those of the Sothiya Women’s Brigade, Kittu artillery corps and Ponnamman mining unit are actively involved.

Fighting has been fierce in areas around Adampan, Kattukkaraikulam, Paalaikuli, Palamottai, Periyathambanai, Mullikulam, Vilaathikulam etc The Tigers have relied mainly on artillery, sniping and extensive mining to keep the Army at bay.

The large-scale induction of the newly formed mechanized infantry brigade by the Army into the Mannar theatre of war is expected to turn the tide soon.

Despite the dogged determination of the LTTE in fighting a full - fledged defensive war, overwhelming superiority is enjoyed by the security forces in terms of positional warfare.

All things being constant, it is only a matter of time before the inexorable drive of the armed forces reaches its destination.

As for now, the 58 and 57 Division Brigades are within a comparatively short distance of Adampan and Madhu but the fierce resistance by the LTTE so far, has made it a case of “so near and yet so far.”