Ellalan operation on the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Anuradhapura on 22.10.2007.

A note on the offensive movement of the Ellalan operation

These are the lines of the final letter written Karumpuli Lt. Col. Ilango to the people of Tamileelam:

‘We will liberate Tamileelam when our national leader is here with us. This is certain. Your contribution is important for that. You must support your national leader. Only with your contribution we can liberate our land. That is why we have taken the form of Karumpulikal. We will meet the lions who come in the sky and shoot at them in their own dens.”

09.10.2007

To my dear people,

You all see with your own eyes what the Sinhala fanatic is doing. However, I will say a few things. We will reclaim Tamileelam during the time of our national leader. This is certain. Your contribution is also very important for that. You are the ones who should lend a shoulder to our national leader. Only with your contribution we can reclaim our land.

That is why we have taken the form of Karumpulikal. We will meet the lions who come from the sky and throw bombs at them right in their cave. We will make them understand the plight of the Tamils. We will make them understand. The Tamil fight is growing in strength. Now you are the ones who should stand up against the Sinhalese.

We have shown that we know how to destroy and where we need to destroy. Let us continue to beat the Sinhalese fanatics in the same way.

There is our national leader to guide us. If you just stand up and stand firm, Tamileelam will come quickly.

The thirst of the Tigers is for the homeland of Tamileelam.

Give our national leader attention.

Give our national leader is our guide.

Give our national leader is our father.

Give our national leader is our mother.

Nothing should happen to him.

1;Ilango

The Sinhalese government and the Sinhalese military have still not recovered from the shock of the successful ‘Ellalan Operation’ attack on the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Anuradhapuram early on Monday morning by the LTTE’s Karumpulikal, with the help of the Air Force.

This attack, which was planned in a very good manner by the national leader and was successfully carried out by the special Karumpulikal within a short time, has once again proven to the Sinhalese government and the world the LTTE’s offensive tactics, fighting ability and might, according to various military analysts and international news agencies.

Those moments when the Karumpulikal took over the Anuradhapuram Air Base

A 21-strong delegation of men and women, the Karumpulikal of the LTTE, infiltrated the Anuradhapuram Air Base at around 3 am on Monday.

Using RPG launchers and machine guns, they launched attacks on the Sri Lankan soldiers on guard duty at the guard posts and inside the air base and brought the air base under their control. After that, the LTTE squad, divided into two groups, one with the Ilango and the other with the Veeman, engaged in destroying the aircraft parked inside the air base and destroying the radar stations and anti-aircraft weapons positions.

Within an hour, the Karumpulikal successfully attacked the massive Anuradhapuram Air Base, which was three kilometers long and two and a half kilometers wide and brought it under their complete control. At that time, two LTTE air force aircraft entered the Anuradhapuram Air Base and dropped two bombs, causing further heavy damage to the base. The Karumpulikal held the air base under their control until 11.00 a.m. on Monday and destroyed all the aircraft parked inside the Anuradhapuram Air Base.

A Bell-212 helicopter sent to assist the air base in Vavuniya was shot down by anti-aircraft fire in the Mahindalai area. The four airmen on board were killed when the helicopter crashed and their bodies were scattered.

Although initial reports indicated that eight Sri Lankan aircraft were destroyed during these attacks. And reliable information currently available suggests that up to 18 aircraft were destroyed during the attack on the airbase.

In this regard, the comments made by the Sri Lankan Member of Parliament of the United National Party, Lakshman Seneviratne, at a press conference on Wednesday, the 24th, are very significant. He stated that 18 aircraft worth 660 crore rupees were destroyed or damaged:

Mi-24 Helicopters – 02

Mi-17 Helicopter – 01

Bell-212 – 01

Beechcraft – 01,

Mu-8 Trainer – 01

Pu-6 Trainer – 03

Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft – 03

Cessna – 06

Lakshman Seneviratne said that three more aircraft were destroyed by the LTTE during the attack, adding that details of these will be released once they are available.

The Sri Lankan government had released reports that 14 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and more than 20 were injured during the attacks. Those killed included Wing Commander Amila Mokotty, Squadron Leader Ruwan Wijewaratne, two flying officers, four corporals and two lance corporals.

People from Anuradhapuram was awake whole day

The city of Anuradhapuram was shaken by the sounds of gunfire and gunshots from 03.20 in the morning. The people of the city were startled from their sleep by these sounds and remained awake throughout the night due to fear.

Several people had told news agencies that they had seen two LTTE aircraft flying low with great noise and dropping bombs. People living near the camp also reported seeing huge fireballs and flames in the camp area.

The significance of the Anuradhapuram air base attack

The attack was carried out by the LTTE at a time when Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was misleading the Sinhalese people living in southern Sri Lanka and the international community by issuing statements that the Sri Lankan government and the Sinhalese military were defeating the LTTE in battle and that the Sinhalese forces would soon capture the Vanni region under the control of the LTTE. The LTTE was trying to convey several messages to the Sri Lankan government and the international community through this attack. First, the LTTE continues to be a major force influencing political and military decisions in Sri Lanka.

The second is that they can successfully infiltrate any part of southern Sri Lanka, as is the case with all the security structures of the Sri Lankan government. The third is that the Anuradhapuram military base is the main rear base for the Sinhalese military’s northern theater offensive operations, and the successful attack there has had an impact on the future strategic operations of the Sinhalese military.

The fourth is that the Sinhalese troops have spread their wings in Tamileelam, and that all Sinhalese army camps in not only Tamileelam but also in southern Sri Lanka will be easily attacked and destroyed by the LTTE. The fifth is that the traditional military ability of the LTTE to carry out well-coordinated and successful offensive operations with the air force is demonstrated. The sixth is that this successful offensive operation has created a sense of victory and enthusiasm in the minds of the Tamil people living in the homeland and in the diaspora.

Lt. Col. Ilangovan’s final words

Although the Sri Lankan government forces tried several times to recapture the Anuradhapuram Air Base, which had been completely controlled by the LTTE, it was not possible due to the fierce counterattack of the Karumpulikal.

The leader of the Karumpulikal, Lt. Col. Ilango, who had been continuously reporting the field conditions of the air force base to the Vanni command post, was wounded for the third time. In that situation, the hero, who had properly given the orders to the Karumpulikal operating under him and completed the memory of the national leader in action, spoke his final lines to the command post.

‘We have completed what our national leader has planned. You too should carry out our national leader’s plan properly. Our national leader is the focus. Please protect him carefully. I have also been injured for the third time. I am severing contact…’ Ilango’s voice trailed off with these words. The supreme dedication, sacrifice, and the affection and love they had for the Tamil people and the national leader are all worthy of admiration. To achieve the highest aspiration of those freedom fighters, namely Tamileelam, we should all rally behind our national leader and fight against the Sinhala forces to establish an independent Tamileelam as soon as possible. This will be our respect for the sacrifices and dedication of those Karumpulikal who laid down their lives for this land.

(Correction by Tamilpriya)