The Battle of Aanandapuram was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military, 58 Division, 53 Division and Task Force 8 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the control of the last stronghold held by the LTTE. This battle is a part of the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war. The battle was fought in the Aanandapuram area of Puthukkudiyirippu AGA Sri Lanka.
Build up
Since the start of the northern offensive in 2008 the Sri Lankan Army had been steadily progressing on multiple fronts. As the LTTE had limited men and firepower, it was gradually withdrawing towards the North East part of the country. Finally they were confined to a small littoral strip of territory located between the A-35 highway (Paranthan-Mullaitheevu road) Nanthikadal and Chalai lagoons on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.
More than 50,000 soldiers from five divisions and three task forces besieged the LTTE. The Tigers were trying desperately to break out of this encirclement and drive the forces back. Against this backdrop the LTTE planned to launch a massive counter-offensive against the armed forces. The idea was to conduct a carefully planned operation that would deliver a crippling blow to the security forces although the Tigers were outnumbered 50 to 1.
The battle
On 30 March LTTE launched a massive attack on SLA front line in the Puthukuduyirippu area, advancing out of the no-fire zone. LTTE advanced towards Puthukudiyirippu facing stiff resistance by Sri Lankan Army. SL Army's 53rd and 58th divisions and Task Force 8 advanced out of Puthukkudiyiruppu in a pincer movement intended to outflank the Charles Anthony regiment which held the eastward-running Puthukkudiyiruppu-Iranappaalai-Puthumaathalan road. A brigade of the 58th Division swung east and then south, while another from the 53rd, along with TF8, attacked east and then north, both pincers meeting at Pachaipullumottai junction to the rear of Charles Anthony, cutting the footpath between Ambalaranpokkanai to Pachaipullumotti which LTTE used as a supply line. The Tigers fought fiercely to prevent the encirclement but were overwhelmed. Special Forces and Commandos set an ambush in the coconut trees east of the pocket, cutting routes of reinforcement to the LTTE trapped in Aanandapuram. A reinforced company of Tigers under Col Lawrence was sent in a convoy that attempted to reach the 2 km square pocket, but were ambushed and destroyed by special forces. Injured, Lawrence managed to escape with a few survivors. The army moved in heavy support weapons, artillery and multiple-barrel rocket launchers. By 5 April, the battle was over. This was an extremely decisive battle in 2008–2009 Sri Lankan Army Northern offensive. Close to 75% of the LTTE's forces were lost, and suffered its largest loss of command staff in a single battle.
LTTE casualties
Senior LTTE leaders killed
Brig. Theepan (Overall commander of the LTTE northern front fighting formations) Bri.Viduthalai alias Amuthan alias Gaddafi (Bodyguard of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, later, special commander of the Imran-Pandian regiment) Brig.Manivannan (Special Commander of the "Kittu" artillery brigade) Brig.Durga alias Meezhika (Special commander of Sothiya regiment) Brig.Vidhusha alias Yaazhini (Special commander of Maalathi regiment) Col.Nagesh (Deputy commander of the Jayanthan Regiment) Col.Gopith (Commander of the Charles Anthony Special Regiment) Col.Kamalini (Deputy Commander of Maalathi regiment) Col.Ilankeeran alias A Cheton (AC) (Commander of Victor anti-armor regiment) Col.Mohana (Deputy commander of Sothia regiment) Col.Gopal (Deputy commander of the "Kutty Sri" mortar brigade) Col.Amudha (Women division Chief of the "Kutty Sri" mortar brigade) Col.Asmi (Commander of "Ponnamman" mining unit) Col.Tamil Selvi alias Mathi (Commander of Malathi regiment) Col.Anton (Chief of LTTE Trincomalee Intelligence department(TOSIS)) Col.Ellalan Lt.Col.Saththiyappiriya alias Eekaiyoli (Commander of Women Political division Regiment) Lt.Col.Makeenthiram (Chief of 'Sea Resource' department) Lt.Col.Vaakiisan Lt.Col.Seralaathan (In-charge of the Tiger TV "Nitharsanam") Lt.Col.Meyyarivu (Imran-Pandian regiment) Lt.Col.Rajesh (Imran-Pandian regiment) Lt.Col.Akilesh (Imran-Pandian regiment) Lt.Col.Nalan (Special Officer of Imran-Pandian regiment) Lt.Col.Amuthaap (Deputy commander of the Charles Anthony special regiment) Lt.Col.Abdulaah Lt.Col.Puratchi Nilaa(Commander of Malathi regiment's commanding post)