Sri Lankan Civil War 225283 225993607 2008-07-16T10:46:51Z 213.197.173.54 /* Sri Lanka pulls out of Ceasefire */ Reference to the page on Sea Tigers. {{WP:SLR/bluebox}} {{Infobox Military Conflict | conflict = Sri Lankan Civil War 1983 | partof = | image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Para5.jpg|300px|Sri Lankan Army Airborne Commandos]] --> | caption = Sri Lankan Army Airborne Commandos | date = July 1983 – present | place = [[Sri Lanka]] | casus = Sharp disagreements between the majority [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] and minority [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] communities | status = Ongoing | combatant1 = [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|18px]] [[Sri Lanka]]<br>[[Image:Flag of India.svg|18px]] [[IPKF|Indian Peace Keeping Force]]<small>(1987–90)</small>| combatant2 = <!-- Commented out: [[Image:Ltte emblem.jpg|18px]] --> [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]<br> | commander1 = [[Junius Richard Jayawardene]] (1983-89)<br> [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] (1989-93)<br> [[Dingiri Banda Wijetunge]] (1993-94)<br> [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] (1994-2005)<br> [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] (2005-present) | commander2 = [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]] (1983-present) |strength1=111,000<ref name="iiss1">''International Institute for Strategic Studies'', [http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/MainPages/dsp_ConflictWeapons.asp?ConflictID=174&YearID=961#2005 Armed Conflicts Database]</ref> |strength2=11,000<ref name="iiss1"/> |strength3=5,000 | casualties1 = 17,066 SLA soldiers killed as of 2001; <ref name=>{{cite journal | author = , | year = | title = Psychological Management of Combat Stress--A Study Based on Sri Lankan Combatants | url = http://mailer.fsu.edu/~cfigley/vets/documents/PsychologicalManagementofCombatStress_SriLanka.pdf | accessdate = 2008-04-20 }}</ref></br>1,500 [[IPKF]] soldiers killed;</br>1,000 Sri Lankan police killed;<ref>[http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/index.html Srilanka Assessment 2008<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiaabroad/20080428/r_t_ians_wl_asia/twl-finally-sri-lanka-to-build-memorial-d5d6288_1.html Finally, Sri Lanka to build memorial for Indian soldiers - Yahoo! India News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><br>2,000 SLA soldiers killed after 2001<ref>[http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/assessment2006.html Srilanka Assessment 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/assessment2007.html Srilanka Assessment 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7307349.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Numbers game clouds Sri Lankan war<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/index.html Srilanka Assessment 2008<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-30-SriLanka-civil-war_N.htm?csp=34</ref> | casualties2 = 19,877 Tigers killed as of 2007 <ref name=LTTES> ''Tamils mark 25-years of Tiger sacrifice'' [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=23869 [[Tamilnet]] ]</ref> | casualties3 = 30,000 civilians killed{{Fact|date=July 2008}} }} {{Campaignbox Sri Lankan Civil War}} {{Sri Lankan Conflict}} {{Politics of Sri Lanka}} The '''Sri Lankan Civil War''' is an [[ongoing conflict]] on the [[island]]-nation of [[Sri Lanka]]. Since the year 1983, there has been on-and-off [[civil war]], predominantly between the [[Government of Sri Lanka|government]] and the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers), a [[Separatism|separatist]] militant organization who fight for the creation of an [[Independence|independent]] state named [[Tamil Eelam]] in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|North]] and [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|East]] of the island. It is estimated over 70,000 people have been officially listed as killed in the war since 1983[http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-32243020080301]. However, a recent study published in the esteemed British Medical Journal indicates that these figures are far from accurate. The independent study, performed by the [[University of Washington]] and [[Harvard Medical School]], indicates that at least 215,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka's war up until 2002 [http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080622/spotlight-1.htm]. The study further states the estimate may be as high as 338,000 killed, taking into account various factors that may have led to under-reporting, and only includes those killed directly due to violence in the conflict. The study is careful to point out that their survey's inability to "capture families with no survivors" is another source of downward bias, and that their estimates are thus conservative. As one of the world's deadliest ongoing armed conflicts, it has caused significant harm to the population, environment and severe damage to the [[Economy of Sri Lanka|economy]] of the country, leading to the ban of the LTTE, the conflict's chief antagonist, as a [[terrorist]] organization in 30 countries including the [[United States]], [[Japan]], [[Brazil]], [[Australia]], the countries of the [[European Union]], and [[Canada]]. The possibility of a lasting peace were raised when a cease-fire was declared in December 2001, and a ceasefire agreement was signed with international mediation in 2002.<ref name="gd1">{{cite news | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,655451,00.html | title =Ceasefire raises Sri Lankan peace hopes| work =|publisher = [[The Guardian]]|date = [[February 22]], [[2002]]}}</ref> However hostilities renewed in late 2005 and the conflict has continued to escalate, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people since November 2005.<ref name="fox1">{{cite news | url =http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Feb23/0,4670,SriLanka,00.html | title =Monitors Say 4,000 Dead in Sri Lanka| work =Dillip Ganguly|publisher = Fox News|date = [[February 23]], [[2007]]}}</ref> The government has launched a number of military offensives against the LTTE since July 2006, and driven the LTTE out of the entire Eastern province of the island,<ref name='wt-7/14/07-ffo'>{{cite news | url = http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/FOREIGN/107140037/1003 | title =Sri Lanka's war seen far from over | work =Amal Jayasinghe|publisher = AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE|date = [[July 14]], [[2007]]}}</ref> and on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the agreement the LTTE declared they would "resume their freedom struggle to achieve statehood".<ref name="nyt3">{{cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/world/asia/25lanka.html?pagewanted=1 | title =Sri Lankan Government Finds Support From Buddhist Monks| work =Somini Sengupta|publisher = The New York Times|date = [[February 25]], [[2007]]}}</ref> The government's forces also claimed recently to have destroyed all the large arms smuggling vessels that belonged to the LTTE.<ref name='mod-kkd-10/08/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Sri Lanka Navy destroys the 10th LTTE arms ship 1700 km off Dondra | date=2007-10-08 | publisher= | url =http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=482 | work =Sri Lanka Navy | pages = | accessdate = 2007-11-19 | language = }}</ref> Just after the government's military commanders expressed their hope to win the war in the near future,<ref name='mod-no-12/31/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Forces' Chiefs predict Tiger extinction in 2008 | date=2007-12-31 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071231_01 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> on January 2, 2008 the government formally announced withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement. The Government further alleged that the LTTE violated the agreement over 10,000 times. <ref name='mod-cfa-1/2/08'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Government takes policy decision to abrogate failed CFA | date=2008-01-02 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080102_12 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-02 | language = }}</ref> As a result of fighting since April 2006, there are more than 200,000 internally displaced persons in the country. Deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians (including killings during aerial bombardment, shelling and claymore mine attacks) are taking place in violation of international humanitarian law. On December 7, 2007 the [[Human Rights Watch]] and the [[Amnesty International]] in a joint letter asked the [[UN Human Rights Council]] to take urgent action in order to end abuses in Sri Lanka, both by the government and the LTTE.<ref name='mod-hrw-12/07/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Human Rights Council: Urgent Action Needed to End Abuses in Sri Lanka | date=2007-12-07 | publisher= | url =http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/12/07/slanka17509.htm | work =Human Rights Watch | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-02 | language = }}</ref> ==Origin and Evolution== {{Main|Origins of the Sri Lankan civil war}} The ancient chronicle ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' tells of Tamils from South India in conflict with the Sinhalese. However, the root of modern conflict goes back to British colonial rule when the country was known as Ceylon. A nationalist political movement from Sinhalese communities arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948. After the independence from Britain, the Sinhalese majority wished to assert their political supremacy. Disagreements between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic communities flared up when drawing up the country's first post-independence constitution. Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike's declaration of the "[[Sinhala Only Act]]" language policy was the spark that led to conflict. The civil war is a direct result of the escalation of the confrontational politics that followed. Communal uprisings in the 1950s, 1977, and the formation of the ''Tamil United Liberation Front'' [[TULF]] with its Vaddukkodei(Batakotte) resolution of 1976 were key events. These led to a hardening of attitudes on both sides. The TULF supported the armed actions of young militants who were dubbed "our boys." These "boys" were the product of the post-war population explosion. Many partially educated, unemployed Sinhala and Tamil youth fell for simplistic racist and violent revolutionary solutions to their problems. The leftist parties had remained "non-communal" for a long time, but the Federal Party (as well as its off-shoot, the TULF), deeply conservative and dominated by Vellala casteism, did not attempt to form a national alliance with the leftists in their fight for language rights. Following the sweeping electoral victory of the UNP in July 1977, the TULF became the leading opposition party, with around one sixth of the total electoral vote. In late 1977, in the aftermath of a serious communal clash in August that year, [[Junius Richard Jayawardene]]'s UNP government granted essentially all the language and educational rights demanded by the Tamils<ref name="kms"> ch. 38 </ref>. But the Tamil leadership, now totally subject, virtually on pain of death, to the reclusive military leader of the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" (LTTE), could not take advantage of the favorable political situation, and were thus forced to support the violent campaign of the various Tamil militant groups. == Outbreak of civil war == <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:IPKF SL 2.JPG|left|thumb|150px|The withdrawal of [[IPKF]] from Sri Lanka in 1990, which mark the end of Eelam War I.]] --> {{main|Eelam War I}} Supported by the on-going politics of conflict in Sri Lanka, politicized Tamil youth in the North and the East started to form [[List of Tamil militant groups|militant groups]], some funded by bank robberies. These groups developed independently of the Colombo Tamil leadership, and in the end rejected and annihilated them. The most prominent of these groups was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or the [[LTTE]]. The LTTE initially carried out a campaign of violence against the state, particularly targeting policemen and also moderate Tamil politicians who attempted a dialogue with the government. Their first major operation was the assassination of the mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah in 1975. In fact, the ''modus operandi'' of the early war was based on assassinations. The assassination in 1977 of a Tamil Member of Parliament, M. Canagaratnam, was carried out personally by Vellupillai [[Prabhakaran]], the leader of the LTTE<ref>Narayan Swamy, "Inside an Elusive Mind-Prabhakaran" Konark Publishers, New Delhi, 2003,</ref>. In July 1983, the LTTE launched a deadly attack on the military in the north of the country, killing 13 soldiers<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/timelines/s1708507.htm | title = Timeline - Conflict in Sri Lanka|work =|publisher = [[Radio Australia]]| date =|}}</ref>. It was followed with riots in [[Colombo]], the capital, and elsewhere (see [[Black July]]). Between 400 and 3,000 Tamils were estimated to have been killed,<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3090111.stm | title = Twenty years on - riots that led to war|work =|publisher = [[BBC News]]| date = [[23 July]] [[2003]]}}</ref> and many more fled Sinhalese-majority areas. This is usually considered the beginning of the civil war. Apart from the LTTE, there initially was a plethora of militant groups. The LTTE's position, adopted from that of the [[Palestinian Liberation Organization|PLO]], was that there should be only one. Initially the LTTE gained prominence due to devastating attacks such as the [[Kent and Dollar Farm massacres|massacre of civilians at the Kent and Dollar Farms]] in 1984 and the [[Anuradhapura massacre|Anuradhapura massacre of 146 civilians]] in 1985. The Anuradhapura massacre was apparently retaliated for by government forces with the [[Kumudini boat massacre]] in which over 23 Tamil civilians died. Over time the LTTE merged with or largely exterminated almost all the other militant Tamil groups. As a result, many Tamil splinter groups ended up working with the Sri Lankan government as [[paramilitaries]] or denounced violence and joined mainstream politics, and some legitimate Tamil-oriented political parties reamin, all opposed to LTTE's vision of an independent state. Peace talks between the LTTE and the government began in [[Thimphu]] in 1985, but they soon failed, and the war continued. In 1986 many civilians were [[Akkaraipattu massacre|massacred]] as part of this conflict. In 1987, government troops pushed the LTTE fighters to the northern city of [[Jaffna]]. In April 1987, the conflict exploded with ferocity, as both the government forces and the LTTE fighters engaged each other in a series of bloody operations. The Sri Lankan military launched an offensive, called “Operation Liberation” or “Vadamarachchi Operation”, during May-June 1987, to regain the territory in Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE's control. This offensive marked the Sri Lankan military's first ever conventional warfare in Sri Lankan soil since independence. The military offensive was successful and the LTTE leader Prabhakaran and the Sea Tiger leader [[Soosai]] narrowly escaped from advancing troops at Valvettithurai. The key military personnel who involved in the operation were Lt Col. Vipul Boteju, Lt Col. Sarath Jayawardane, Col. [[Vijaya Wimalaratne]], Brig. [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] and Maj [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]. In July 1987, the LTTE carried out their first [[suicide]] attack: "[[Captain Miller]]" of the [[LTTE Black Tiger|Black Tigers]] drove a small truck with explosives through the wall of a fortified Sri Lankan army camp, reportedly killing forty soldiers. Since then they have carried out over 170 suicide attacks, more than any other organization in the world, and the suicide attack has become a trademark of the LTTE, and a characteristic of the civil war.<ref name="janes1>''Jane's Information Group'', [http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/usscole/jir001020_1_n.shtml Suicide terrorism: a global threat]</ref> Other assassinations by the LTTE include the murder of Dr. [[Rajini Thiranagama]] on [[September 21]], [[1989]] by the LTTE, after criticizing them for their atrocities.<ref Name="UTHR">{{cite web|url=http://www.uthr.org/Statements/Release%20of%20Film%20on%20Rajani%20-%20No%20more%20tears%20sister.htm|title=On the occasion of the release of No More Tears Sister, a film on the life and times of Rajani Thiranagama|accessdate=2007-02-12}}</ref> She was the head of the Department of Anatomy at the [[University of Jaffna]], a [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] [[UTHR|human rights activist]], and [[feminism|feminist]]. {{Fact|date=February 2008}} The killings of [[Mary Bastian|Father Mary Bastian]] and [[George Jeyarajasingham]], both human rights activists, have been attributed to the government forces. These deaths are examples of thousands murdered that happened in this period.<ref name="pc">{{cite web |url=http://storage.paxchristi.net/AP29E97.pdf#search=%22Fr.%20Mary%20Bastian%20%22|title= Speaking truth to power:the human rights situation in Sri Lanka|accessdate=2006-03-26 |format= |work=Paxchristi }}</ref> == Indian involvement == [[Image:IPKF SL 1.JPG|thumb|350px|left|The IPKF was forced to withdraw from Sri Lanka due to opposition from both sides of the conflict]] {{seealso|IPKF|Research and Analysis Wing}} [[India]] became involved in the conflict in the 1980s for a number of reasons, including its leader's desire to project India as the regional power in the area and worries about India's own Tamils seeking independence. The latter was particularly strong in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], where ethnic kinship led to strong support for independence for Sri Lankan Tamils. Throughout the conflict, the Indian central and state governments have supported both sides in different ways. Beginning in the 1980s, India, through its intelligence agency [[Research and Analysis Wing|RAW]], provided arms, training and monetary support to a number of Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups, including the LTTE and its rival [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] (TELO).<ref name="at1">''Asia Times'' [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FC26Df04.html Who's behind the LTTE split?]</ref> The LTTE's rise is widely attributed to the initial backing it received from RAW. It is believed that by supporting different militant groups, the Indian government hoped to keep the Tamil independence movement divided and be able to exert overt control over it.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} India became more actively involved in the late 1980s, and on June 5, 1987 the [[Indian Air Force]] [[Operation Poomalai|airdropped food parcels]] to [[Jaffna]] while it was [[Operation Liberation|under siege]] by Sri Lankan forces. At a time when the Sri Lankan government stated they were close to defeating the LTTE, India dropped 25 tons of food and medicine by parachute into areas held by the LTTE in a direct move of support toward the rebels.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B0DE0D8173FF936A35755C0A961948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fIndia| title = INDIA AIRLIFTS AID TO TAMIL REBELS| work = STEVEN R. WEISMAN|publisher = [[New York Times]]| date = [[5 June]] [[1987]]}}</ref> Negotiations were held, and the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord]] was signed on July 29, 1987, by Indian Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and Sri Lankan President [[Junius Richard Jayewardene|Jayewardene]]. Under this accord, the Sri Lankan Government made a number of concessions to Tamil demands, includeing a [[devolution]] of power to the [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|provinces]], a merger — subject to later referendum — of the northern and eastern provinces into a [[North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|single province]], and official status for the Tamil language (this was enacted as the [[Sri Lankan Constitution|13th Amendment]]). India agreed to establish order in the north and east through a peacekeeping force, and to cease assisting Tamil insurgents. Militant groups including the LTTE, although initially reluctant, agreed to surrender their arms to the IPKF. At the time the Sri Lankan government, which was facing an unrelated Marxist youth [[Insurrection 1987-89|uprising]] by the [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] in the south, called in the Indian military immediately after the agreement was signed. A force dubbed the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF) was formed, and it initially oversaw a cease-fire and a modest [[disarmament]] of the militant groups. The Sri Lankan government pulled its troops south and put down the JVP rebellion as the IPKF took over control of most areas in the north of the country. While most Tamil militant groups laid down their weapons and agreed to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict, the LTTE refused to disarm its fighters.<ref name="cp1>{{cite news | url =http://www.chinapost.com.tw/latestnews/20061228/43353.htm| title =Tamil rebels abduct 2 rivals, Sri Lankan military says| work =|publisher = [[# Associated Press|AP]]|date = [[12 December]], [[2006]]}}</ref> Keen to ensure the success of the accord, the IPKF then tried to demobilize the LTTE by force and ended up in full-scale conflict with the them. The three year long conflict was also marked by the IPKF being accused of committing various abuses of human rights by many human rights groups as well as some within the Indian media. The IPKF also soon met stiff opposition from the Tamils.<ref> Balasingham, Adele. (2003) ''The Will to Freedom - An Inside View of Tamil Resistance''. Fairmax Publishing Ltd, 2nd ed. ISBN 1-903679-03-6</ref><ref> NorthEast Secretariat report on Human rights 1974 - 2004 (see Further Reading section)</ref> Simultaneously, nationalist sentiment led many Sinhalese to oppose the continued Indian presence in Sri Lanka. These led to the Sri Lankan government's call for India to quit the island, and they allegedly entered into a secret deal with the LTTE that culminated in a ceasefire. The LTTE and IPKF continued to have frequent hostilities, and according to some reports, the Sri Lankan government even armed the rebels in order to see the back of the Indian forces.<ref>Dissanayaka, T.D.S.A.: "War or Peace in Sri Lanka, Volume II", page 332. Swastika (Pvt.) Ltd., 1998</ref> Although casualties among the IPKF mounted, and calls for the withdrawal of the IPKF from both sides of the Sri Lankan conflict grew, Gandhi refused to remove the IPKF from Sri Lanka. However, following his defeat in Indian parliamentary elections in December 1989, the new prime Minister [[V. P. Singh]] ordered the withdrawal of the IPKF, and their last ship left Sri Lanka on 24 March 1990. The 32 month presence of the IPKF in Sri Lanka resulted in the deaths of 1100 Indian soldiers and over 5000 Sri Lankans. The cost for the Indian government was estimated at over 20 billion rupees. {{Fact|date=March 2008}} === Rajiv Gandhi Assassination === Support for the LTTE in India dropped considerably in 1991, after the assassination of ex-Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]], by an LTTE woman suicide bomber, [[Thenmuli Rajaratnam]]. The Indian press has subsequently reported that Prabhakaran decided to eliminate Gandhi as he considered him to be against the Tamil liberation struggle and feared that Gandhi might re-induct the IPKF, which Prabakaran termed the "satanic force", if he won the 1991 Indian elections.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/28rajiv3.htm| title = Prabhakaran had Rajiv killed for being 'anti-Tamil'| work =|publisher = Rediff| date = [[31 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> In 1998 a court in India presided over by Special Judge V Navaneetham found the LTTE and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran responsible for the assassination.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/28rajiv.htm| title = 26 sentenced to death for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination| work = | publisher = Rediff| date = [[31 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> and in a 2006 interview, LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham stated regret over the assassination, although he stopped short of outright acceptance of responsibility for it.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Lanka&slug=LTTE+regrets+Rajiv+assassination%3A+Anton&id=19706&callid=0| title = LTTE regrets Rajiv assassination: Anton| work = | publisher = NDTV.com| date = [[28 June]] [[2006]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=385&sid=833337 | title = Tiger Apologizes for Rajiv Gandhi's Death| work =|publisher = [[Associated Press]] via WTOP|date = [[27 June]] [[2006]] }}</ref> India remains an outside observer to the ongoing peace process, with frequent demands by many groups for an extradition of [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]]<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1932835.stm | title = Tamil Nadu demands Tiger extradition| work =|publisher = [[BBC]] |date = [[16 April]] [[20026]] }}</ref> ==Eelam War II== {{Sri Lankan Tamil people}}{{main|Eelam War II}} In the 1980s and 1990s, successive governments enacted a number of official acts to appease the Tamil community, including recognizing Tamil as an [[official language]] and merging the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the country. Yet the violence continued, as the LTTE took control of significant parts of the north when the [[IPKF]] withdrew, and established many government-like functions in the areas under its control. A tentative ceasefire held in 1990 as the LTTE occupied itself with destroying rival Tamil groups while the government cracked down on the JVP uprising. When both major combatants had established their power bases, they turned on each other and the ceasefire broke down. The government launched an offensive to try to retake Jaffna. This phase of the war soon acquired the name ''Eelam War II''. It was marked by unprecedented brutality. The LTTE [[Massacre of police officers in Eastern Sri Lanka in June 1990|massacred 113 Sinhalese and Muslim policemen after they had surrendered]] on promises of safe conduct. The government placed an embargo on food and medicine entering the Jaffna peninsula and the air force relentlessly bombed LTTE targets in the area. The LTTE responded by [[Terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE#1990|attacking Sinhalese and Muslim villages]] and massacring civilians. One of the largest civilian massacres of the war occurred when the LTTE [[Palliyagodella massacre|massacred 166 Muslim civilians at Palliyagodella]]. The government trained and armed Home Guard Muslim units then took revenge on Tamil villages. There was also significant massacre of Tamil civilians attributed to government forces, especially in the Eastern Province. Notable international jurist [[Neelan Thiruchelvam]], in a speech at the ICES-Colombo, indicated that the appropriate investigations into [[Wiktionary:massacre|massacres]] and [[forced disappearances|disappearances]] of civilians including many children in the [[Sathurukondan massacre|Sathurukondan]], [[Eastern University massacre|Eastern University]], [[Mylanthanai massacre|Mylanthanai]] and the mass murder and burial of school children at [[Sooriyakanda mass grave|Sooriyakanda]] were hampered by the adoption of [[emergency]] [[regulations]] which were contributing to a climate of impunity.<ref>[http://www.icescolombo.org/Neelan/ps060994.htm Speech by Neelan Tiruchelvam at the Debate on the Emergency]</ref> Along roadsides in the north and east, burning bodies became a common sight. Throughout the country, government death squads hunted down, kidnapped, or killed Sinhalese or Tamil youth suspected of being JVP or LTTE sympathizers, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hrw.org/reports/1990/WR90/ASIA.BOU-11.htm#P718_161127 |title= Sri Lanka|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= 1990|work= |publisher= [[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref> In October 1990, the LTTE [[Expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna|expelled all the Muslims residing in Jaffna]]. A total of 28,000 Muslims were forced to leave their homes taking nothing but the clothes on their backs.<ref>http://uthayam.net/articles/ oct30_2005html_2.htm Fifteenth Anniversary of Muslim Expulsion From Jaffna, DBS Jeyaraj</ref> The largest battle of the war was in July 1991, when the army's [[Elephant Pass]] (Alimankada) base, which controlled access to the Yapanaya (Jaffna) peninsula, was surrounded by 5,000 LTTE troops. More than 2,000 died on both sides in the month-long siege, before 10,000 government troops arrived to relieve the base.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hrw.org/reports/1992/WR92/ASW-14.htm#P860_317153 |title= Sri Lanka|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= 1992|work= |publisher= [[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref> In February 1992, another series of government offensives failed to capture Jaffna. Lt. General [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] together with Major General [[Vijaya Wimalaratne]] and [[Rear Admiral]] [[Mohan Jayamaha]], died on [[August 8]] [[1992]] at Araly (Aeraella) point [[Jaffna]] due to a [[Land Mine]] blast, which badly affected military morale. The LTTE, for its part, scored a major victory when one of their suicide bombers killed Sri Lankan President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] in May 1993. {{seealso|List of attacks attributed to the LTTE}} ==Eelam War III== {{main|Eelam War III}} In the 1994 parliamentary elections, the UNP was defeated and, amidst great hope, the [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]], headed by [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]], came to power on a peace platform. [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] won the presidential elections as well after the LTTE assassinated the opposition leader [[Gamini Dissanayake]]. A ceasefire was agreed in January 1995, but the ensuing negotiations proved fruitless. The LTTE broke the ceasefire on April 19 and thus began the next phase of the war, dubbed ''Eelam War III''.<ref name=hrw2">''Human Rights Watch'', [http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/WR96/Asia-08.htm SRI LANKA Human Rights Developments]</ref> The new government then pursued a policy of "war for peace". Determined to retake the key rebel stronghold of Jaffna, which was occupied by 2,000 rebels,<ref name="nyt1">{{cite web|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60714F7385D0C778EDDA80994DD494D81|title= Sri Lanka Says It Has Sealed Rebel Stronghold|accessdate= 2007-03-09|date= [[November 24]] [[1995]]|work= |publisher= New York Times}}</ref> it poured troops into the peninsula. In one particular incident in August 1995, Air Force jets bombed St. Peter's church at Navali (Naavaella), [[Navaly Church massacre|killing]] at least 65 refugees and wounding 150 others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/57jmas?opendocument|title= Sri Lanka: displaced civilians killed in air strike|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= [[11 July]] [[1995]]|work= |publisher= International Committee of the Red Cross}}</ref> Government troops initially cut off the peninsula from the rest of the island,<ref name="nyt1"/> and then after 7 weeks of heavy fighting succeeded in bringing Jaffna under government control for the first time in nearly a decade. In a high profile ceremony, Sri Lankan Defense Minister Anurudda Ratwatte raised the national flag inside the Jaffna fort on [[December 5]], [[1995]]. The government estimated that approximately 2500 soldiers and rebels were killed in the offensive, and an estimated 7,000 wounded.<ref name="cnn1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9512/sri_lanka/index.html|title= Sri Lankan army hails capture of Jaffna|accessdate= 2007-03-09|date= [[December 5]] [[1995]]|work= |publisher= CNN}}</ref>. Many civilians were killed as part of this conflict such as the [[Navaly church bombing]] in which over 125 civilians died. The LTTE and more than 350,000 civilians, compelled by LTTE pressure to leave Jaffna,<ref name="hrw1">{{cite web|url=http://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/WR97/ASIA-06.htm#P487_223952|title= Sri Lanka|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= 1997|work= |publisher= [[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref> fled to the [[Vanni region]] in the interior. Most of the refugees returned later the next year. The government launched another offensive in August 1996. Another 200,000 civilians fled the violence.<ref name="hrw1"/> The town of [[Kilinochchi]] (GiraaNikke) was taken on [[September 29]]. On [[May 13]], [[1997]], 20,000 government troops tried to open a supply line through the LTTE-controlled Vanni, but failed. Civilians were regularly killed and wounded by both sides As violence continued in the North, LTTE suicide and time bombs were exploded numerous times in populated city areas and public transport in the south of the country, killing hundreds of civilians. In January 1996, the LTTE carried out one of their deadliest suicide bomb attacks at the [[Central Bank Bombing|Central Bank]] in Colombo, killing 90 and injuring 1,400. In October 1997 they bombed the Sri Lankan World Trade Center and, in January 1998, detonated a truck bomb in [[Kandy]] (Mahanuvara), damaging the [[Temple of the Tooth]], one of the holiest Buddhist shrines in the world. In response to this bombing, the Sri Lankan government outlawed the LTTE and with some success pressed other governments around the world to do the same, significantly interfering with their fund-raising activities. In March 1999, in Operation Rana Gosa, the government tried invading the Vanni from the south. The army made some gains, taking control of Oddusuddan (Oththan-thuduva) and Madhu, but could not dislodge the LTTE from the region. In September 1999 the LTTE [[Gonagala massacre|massacred 50 Sinhalese civilians at Gonagala]]. The LTTE returned to the offensive with "Operation Unceasing Waves" on [[November 2]], [[1999]]. Nearly all the Vanni rapidly fell back into LTTE hands. The LTTE launched 17 successful attacks in the region which culminated in the overrunning of the Paranthan (Puranthaenna) Chemicals Factory base and the Kurrakkan Kaddukulam (kurakkan-kaela vaeva) base. Thousands were killed in the fighting. The rebels also advanced north towards Elephant Pass (Alimankada) and Jaffna (Yapanaya). The LTTE was successful in cutting all land and sea supply lines of the Sri Lankan armed forces in the town of [[Kilinochchi]] and surrounding areas. In December 1999 the LTTE attempted to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a suicide attack at a pre-election rally. She lost one eye, among other injuries, but was able to defeat opposition leader [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]] in the Presidential election and was reelected for her second term in office.<ref name="tribune1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99dec23/head1.htm|title= Chandrikare-elected President|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= [[December 23]], [[1999]]|work= |publisher=The Tribune}}</ref> On [[April 22]], [[2000]] the Elephant Pass military complex, which had separated the Jaffna peninsula from the Vanni mainland for 17 years, completely fell to the hands of the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/apr2000/sri-a25.shtml |title= Military debacle at Elephant Pass set to trigger political crisis in Sri Lanka|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= [[25 April]] [[2000]]|work= |publisher= World Socialist Web Site}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/april2000/tiger.html|title= Tigers seize Elephant Pass|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= |work= |publisher= [[Sri Lanka Monitor]]}}</ref> The army then launched Operation Agni Khiela to take back the southern Jaffna Peninsula, but sustained losses. The LTTE continued to press towards Jaffna, and many feared it would fall to the LTTE, but the military repulsed LTTE offensives and was able to maintain control of the city. ===Early peace efforts=== Exhaustion with the war was building as casualties mounted and there appeared to be no end in sight. By mid-2000, human rights groups estimated that more than one million people in Sri Lanka were [[internally displaced persons]], living in camps, homeless and struggling for survival. As a result, a significant [[peace movement]] developed in the late 1990s, with many organizations holding peace camps, conferences, trainings and peace meditations, and many other efforts to bridge the two sides at all levels. As early as February 2000, [[Norway]] was asked to mediate by both sides, and initial international diplomatic moves began to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/627281.stm |title= Norway role in Sri Lanka peace plan|accessdate= |date=[[February 1]], [[2000]]|work=[[Susannah Price]]|publisher= BBC News}}</ref> Hopes for peace gained ground as the LTTE declared a unilateral ceasefire in December 2000, but they canceled it on [[April 24]], [[2001]] and launched another offensive against the government. After securing a vast area controlled by the military, the LTTE further advanced northwards. This advancement of the LTTE was posing a serious threat to the Elephant Pass (Alimankada) military complex that housed 17,000 troops of the Sri Lankan forces.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.flonnet.com/fl1708/17080520.htm |title= Another LTTE offensive|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date=April 15-28, 2000|work= |publisher= Frontline}}</ref> In July 2001 the LTTE carried out a devastating [[Bandaranaike Airport attack|suicide attack on Bandaranaike International Airport]], destroying eight of the air force's planes (2 [[IAI Kfir]]s, 1 [[Mil Mi-17|Mil-17]], 1 [[Mil Mi-24|Mil-24]], 3 [[Hongdu JL-8|K-8 trainers]], 1 [[Mikoyan MiG-27|MiG-27]]) and four [[Sri Lankan Airlines]] planes (2 Airbus [[A330]]s, 1 [[A340]] and 1 [[A320]]), dampening the economy and causing tourism, a vital foreign exchange earner for the government, to plummet. ==2002 Peace process== ====Beginning of the ceasefire==== Towards the end of 2001, however, following the attacks of [[9/11]], the LTTE began to declare their willingness to explore measures for a peaceful settlement to the conflict. The LTTE are believed to have taken this action after fear of international pressure and even direct US support of the Sri Lankan Government as part of the War on Terror.<ref name="bbct"/> In the south, the government was facing increasing criticism over its "war for peace" strategy, with peace nowhere in sight, and the economy in tatters. After losing a no-confidence motion, President Kumaratunga was forced to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. The [[Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2001|elections, held on December 5, 2001]] saw a sweeping victory for the [[United National Front]], led by [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]], who campaigned on a pro-peace platform and pledged to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict. On [[December 19]], amidst efforts by Norway to bring the government and the Tamil Tigers to the negotiating table, the LTTE announced a 30 day ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government and pledged to halt all attacks against government forces.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1719133.stm | title =Sri Lanka rebels announce truce| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[19 December]], [[2001]]}}</ref> The new government welcomed the move, and reciprocated it 2 days later, announcing a month long ceasefire and agreeing to lift a long standing economic [[embargo]] on rebel-held territory.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1723419.stm | title =Sri Lanka enters truce with rebels| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[21 December]], [[2001]]}}</ref> ====Signing of MoU==== [[Image:Sea Tiger Fast Attack boat.jpg|thumb|left|250px|LTTE Sea Tiger boat patroling during the peace.]] The two sides formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on [[February 22]], [[2002]] and signed a permanent ceasefire agreement (CFA). Norway was named [[mediation|mediator]], and it was decided that they, together with the other Nordic countries, monitor the ceasefire through a committee of experts named the [[Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission]].<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1835737.stm | title =Sri Lanka seals truce deal| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[22 February]], [[2002]]}}</ref> In August, the government agreed to lift the ban on the LTTE and paved the way for the resumption of direct negotiations with the LTTE.<ref name="bbc4">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2217189.stm | title =Colombo lifts ban on Tamil Tigers| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[26 August]], [[2002]]}}</ref> Following the signing of the ceasefire agreement, commercial air flights to Jaffna began and the LTTE opened the key A9 highway, which linked government controlled area in the south with Jaffna and ran through LTTE territory, allowing civilian traffic through the Vanni region for the first time in many years, but only after paying a tax to the LTTE. Many foreign countries also offered substantial financial support if peace was achieved and optimism grew that an end to the decades long conflict was in sight. The much anticipated peace talks began in [[Phuket]], [[Thailand]] on the [[September 16]] and 5 further rounds followed in Phuket, Norway and [[Berlin]], [[Germany]].<ref name="bbc5">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2260047.stm | title =Upbeat opening for Sri Lanka talks| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[16 September]], [[2002]]}}</ref> During the talks, both sides agreed to the principle of a federal solution and the Tigers dropped their long standing demand for separate state. This was a key compromise from the LTTE, which had always insisted on an independent Tamil state and it also represented a compromise from the government, which had seldom agreed to more than minimal devolution. Both sides also exchanged prisoners of war for first time.<ref name="bbct">''BBC News'', [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1166237.stm Timeline: Sri Lanka]</ref> ====Political changes in the South==== Following the elections of 2001, for the first time in Sri Lanka's history, the President and Prime Minister were of two different parties. This co-habitation was extremely uneasy, especially since Prime Minister Wickremasinghe and the [[United National Party|UNP]] favoured a federal solution to the conflict, while hard-line elements within President Kumaratunga's party and other Sinhala nationalist groups allied to her opposed one as they did not trust the LTTE, which continued to levy taxes, strengthen themselves militarily by smuggling in arms and ammunition, recruit child soldiers, and engage in killings of members of rival Tamil groups and government intelligence agents. During this time the LTTE also succeeded in setting up a series of vital bases around the Trincomalee (Gokanna) harbour (see [[Eelam War IV]]) and the Eastern Province. The talks broke down on April 21, 2003 when the Tamil Tigers announced they were suspending any further talks due to their "displeasure" at the handling of some "critical issues". Among the reasons the Tigers gave were their exclusion from reconstruction talks in Washington DC on 14 April and a more general insinuation that they were not receiving the full economic rewards of peace. They cited the failure, as they saw it, of peace-dividends to transfer to security withdrawals on the ground and the disparity, as they saw it, between the relative calm of the government-held north-east and continuing violence in Tiger-held areas. However the LTTE maintained it was committed to a settlement to the two-decade conflict, but stated that progress had to be made on the ground before the settlement proceeded.<ref name="bbc6">{{cite news | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2964349.stm | title =Tamil Tigers call off peace talks| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[21 April]], [[2003]]}}</ref> On October 31, the LTTE issued its own peace proposal, calling for an ''Interim Self-Governing Authority'' (ISGA). The ISGA would be fully controlled by the LTTE and would have broad powers in the north and east. (see the [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3232913.stm Full text of the proposals]) This provoked a strong backlash among the hardline elements in the South, who accused Prime Minister Wickremasinghe of handing the north and east to the LTTE. Under pressure from within her own party to take action, Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency and took three key government ministries, the Ministry of Mass Media, the Interior Ministry and the crucial Defense Ministry.<ref name="bbc7">{{cite news | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3239303.stm | title =Sri Lanka thrown into political crisis| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[4 November]], [[2003]]}}</ref> She then formed an alliance with the JVP, called the [[United People's Freedom Alliance]], opposed to the ISGA and advocating a harder line on the LTTE, and called for fresh elections. The [[Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004|elections]], held on April 8, 2004, resulted in victory for the UPFA with [[Mahinda Rajapakse]] appointed as Prime Minister. Initial fears of a resumption of the conflict were proved unfounded when the new government expressed its desire to continue the peace process and find a negotiated settlement to the conflict. ===Split of the LTTE=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Karuna@east.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Colonel Karuna at his eastern base in early 2007.]] --> Meanwhile, there was a major fracturing between the northern and eastern wings of the LTTE. [[Colonel Karuna]], the Eastern commander of the LTTE and one of Prabakaran's trusted lieutenants, pulled 5,000 eastern cadres out of the LTTE, claiming insufficient resources and power were being given to Tamils of the eastern part of the island. It was the biggest expression of dissension in the history of the LTTE and a civil war within the LTTE seemed imminent. After the parliamentary elections, brief fighting south of Trincomalee (Gokanna) led to a rapid retreat and capitulation of Karuna's group, their leaders eventually going into hiding including Karuna himself, who was helped to escape by [[Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana]], a powerful politician from the ruling party. However the "Karuna faction" maintains a significant presence in the east and continues to launch attacks against the LTTE.<ref name="nyt2">{{cite news | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/world/asia/31lanka.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | title =Sri Lanka Says Rebels Took Losses in Raids| work =|publisher = [[New York Times]]|date = [[31 December]], [[2006]]}}</ref> The LTTE accuses the army of covertly backing the breakaway group, which subsequently formed a political party named the [[TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal]] (TMVP) and hopes to contest in future elections. The ceasefire largely held through all this turmoil, with over a 3000 infractions by the LTTE and some 300 by the SLA recorded by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by 2005<ref>Sri Lanka peace secretariat report, 2005</ref>. The situation was further complicated by allegations that both sides were carrying out covert operations against each other. The government claimed that the LTTE was killing political opponents, recruiting children, importing arms, and killing government security and intelligence officers. The rebels accused the government of supporting paramilitary groups against them, especially the Karuna group. ===Tsunami and aftermath=== On December 26, 2004, the [[Indian Ocean tsunami]] hit Sri Lanka, killing more than 30,000 people, and leaving many more homeless. Aid poured in from donor countries, but disagreements arose instantly over how it should be distributed to the Tamil regions under LTTE control. By June 24, the government and LTTE agreed on the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), but it received sharp criticism from Muslims and from the JVP, who left the government in protest. The legality of P-TOMS was also challenged in the courts. President Kumaratunga eventually had to scrap P-TOMS, which led to widespread criticism that sufficient aid was not reaching the north and east of the country. However, immediately following the tsunami there was a marked decrease in violence in the north. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister [[Lakshman Kadirgamar]], a Tamil who was highly respected by foreign diplomats and who had been sharply critical of the LTTE, was assassinated at his home on [[August 12]], [[2005]], allegedly by an LTTE sniper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4147196.stm |title=Senior Sri Lanka minister killed |accessdate=2005-08-13|format= |work=BBC News }}</ref> His assassination led to the marginalization of the LTTE from the international community, and is thought to be the instant when the LTTE lost much of its sympathy in the eyes of foreign nations. The silence of the international community when the Sri Lankan government took military action against the LTTE in 2006, when the latter closed the Mavil Oya (Mavil aru) sluice, violating the ceasefire agreement, has been attributed to the LTTE's assassination of Kadirgamar. Further political change occurred when the [[Supreme Court of Sri Lanka]] declared President Kumaratunga's second and final term over and ordered her to hold fresh presidential elections. The main candidates for the [[Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005|election]], which was held in November, were the UNF candidate, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, who advocated the reopening of talks with the LTTE, and the UPFA candidate, Prime Minister Rajapaksa, who called for a tougher line against the LTTE and a renegotiation of the ceasefire. The LTTE openly called for a [[boycott]] of the election by the Tamils. Believing the Tamils were getting ready to vote in large numbers, the LTTE used violence and intimidation to prevent a vast number of Tamils from voting. Many of them were expected to vote for Wickremasinghe, and the loss of their votes proved fatal to his chances as Rajapakse achieved a narrow win. Despite being seen as a hardliner, Rajapaksa promised to pursue peace and restart talks with the rebels. Following the election, the LTTE leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]] stated in his annual address that the Tigers would "renew their struggle" in 2006 if the government did not take serious moves toward peace. ==Resumption of hostilities== {{Main|Eelam War IV}} Just days after Prabhakaran's speech, a new round of violence erupted. Beginning in December 2005, there was increased guerrilla activity to the northeast, including [[M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine|Claymore mine]] attacks which killed 150 government troops,<ref name="st1">{{cite news | url =http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060430/index.html | title =How President decided on retaliation| work =|publisher = The Sunday Times|date = [[April 30]], [[2006]]}}</ref> clashes between the [[Sea Tigers]] and the Sri Lanka navy, and the killings of sympathizers on both sides including [[Taraki Sivaram]], a pro-LTTE journalist, and [[Joseph Pararajasingham]], a pro-LTTE MP allegedly by the LTTE as they were changing their stance towards the LTTE and were beginning to speak out against them. Beginning of the year 2008 the civil war trend turned on civilian targets, with commuter buses and train bombings carried out in most parts of the country<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7440183.stm|title=Sri Lanka's war turns on civilians|work=BBC News|date=6 June 2008}}</ref> , including a series of attacks against commuters in and around Colombo<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BCADEB7F-1755-4499-8719-C5E4181273B7.htm Deadly bus bombings hit Sri Lanka]</ref>. ====Talks and further violence==== In light of this violence, the co-chairs of the [[Tokyo]] Donor conference called on both parties to return to the negotiating table. The co-chairs &mdash; the United States in particular &mdash; were heavily critical of the violence perpetrated by the LTTE. [[US State Department]] officials, as well as the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, gave warnings to the Tigers claiming a return to hostilities would mean that the Tigers would face a "more capable and more determined" Sri Lankan military.<ref name="ind1">{{cite news | url =http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article338232.ece| title =Sri Lanka bomb attack fuels fear of return to civil war| work =Justin Huggle|publisher = [[The Independent]]|date = [[January 13]], [[2006]]}}</ref>While the talks were going on there was violence targeted towards civilians such as [[2006 Trincomalee massacre| massacre of 5 Tamil students]] on [[January 2]], [[2006]] in [[Trincomalee]] when high school students playing by the beach were briefly detained and then shot dead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nation.lk/2006/07/23/newsfe3.htm|title=Is the State complacent?|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=The Nation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/612/|title='Murder of five Tamil youths highlights need to end impunity' – Govt must protect witnesses to Trinco killings – HRW|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=Human Rights Watch }}</ref> In a last-minute effort to salvage an agreement between the parties, the Norwegian special envoy [[Erik Solheim]] and the LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham arrived in the island. The parties severely disagreed on the location of the talks; however, continued efforts produced a breakthrough when both parties agreed on [[February 7]], [[2006]], that new talks could be held in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]] on [[February 22]] and [[February 23]]. These talks were reported to have gone "above expectations", with both the government and the LTTE agreeing to curb the violence and to hold further talks on April 19-21.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4742208.stm|title = Sri Lanka foes to 'curb violence'| work =|publisher = BBC News| date = [[24 February]] [[2006]]}}</ref> During the weeks after the talks, there was a significant decrease in violence. However the LTTE resumed attacks against the military in April beginning with a [[Claymore]] anti-personnel mine attack on military vehicles which killed 10 navy sailors on April 11th. The following day, coordinated bombings by rebels and rioting in the north-eastern part of the country left 16 dead. First, a Claymore anti-personnel mine exploded in [[Trincomalee]], killing two policemen in their vehicle. Another blast, set off in a crowded vegetable market, killed one soldier and some civilians. Ensuing rioting by civilians left more than a dozen dead.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4901952.stm|title = Sri Lanka violence leaves 16 dead| work =|publisher = BBC News| date = [[12 April]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Responsibility for these attacks was claimed by an organisation called the [[Upsurging People's Force]], which the military accused of being a front for the LTTE. In light of this violence, the LTTE called for a postponement of the Geneva talks until April 24-25, and the government initially agreed to this. Following negotiations, both the government and the rebels agreed to have a civilian vessel transport the regional LTTE leaders with international truce monitors on April 16, which involved crossing government-controlled territory. However, the climate shifted drastically when the Tamil Tigers canceled the meeting, claiming not to have agreed to a naval escort. According to the SLMM, the Tamil rebels had previously agreed to the escort. This led to Helen Olafsdottir, spokesperson for the SLMM saying "It was part of the agreement. The rebels should have read the clauses carefully. We are frustrated."<ref name="bbc8">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4911554.stm | title = Tamil Tigers harden talks stance| work = | publisher = BBC News| date = [[17 April]] [[2006]]}}</ref> On April 20, 2006, the LTTE officially pulled out of peace talks indefinitely. While they stated that transportation issues had prevented them from meeting their regional leaders, some analysts and the international community held a deep skepticism, seeing the transportation issue as a delaying tactic by the LTTE in order to avoid attending peace talks in Geneva.<ref name="bbc9">{{cite news | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/04/printable/060423_eu_ban.shtml | title = EU ban on LTTE urged| work = | publisher = BBC News| date = [[23 April]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Violence continued to spiral and on April 23, 2006, [[Gomarankadawala massacre|six Sinhalese rice farmers were massacred]] in their paddy fields by suspected LTTE cadres in the [[Trincomalee]] district.<ref>http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL157189.htm</ref> The following day, two suspected Tamil Tiger rebels were shot dead in [[Batticaloa]] when caught planting mines after rebels reportedly hacked a young mother to death and kidnapped her infant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4937624.stm |title = 'Eight die' in Sri Lanka violence |work = |publisher = BBC News |date = [[24 April]] [[2006]]}}</ref> After LTTE launched a suicide assault on a naval convoy in which 18 sailors died, the [[Allaipiddy massacre]] of [[May 13]], [[2006]] happened in which 13 minority [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] civilians were killed in separate incidents in three villages in the [[List of islands of Sri Lanka#Northern Province|islet of Kayts (Uruthota)]] in northern Sri Lank.<ref> {{cite news | first = Dumeetha | last = Luthra | title = Sri Lanka villagers flee massacre | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5000920.stm | work = [[BBC]] | date = [[2006-05-20]] | accessdate = 2007-08-16}}</ref> International condemnation against the LTTE skyrocketed following the attempted assassination of the commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General [[Sarath Fonseka]] by a pregnant LTTE [[LTTE Black Tiger|Black Tiger]] [[suicide bomber]] [[Anoja Kugenthirasah]], who blew herself up at the [[Sri Lankan Army]] headquarters in the capital, [[Colombo]]. Lt. Gen. Fonseka and twenty-seven others were injured, while ten people were killed in the attack. For the first time since the 2001 ceasefire, the Sri Lanka Air Force carried out aerial assaults on rebel positions in the north-eastern part of the island nation in retaliation for the attack.<ref>{{cite news |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm |title = Bomb targets Sri Lanka army chief|work = |publisher = BBC News|date = [[25 April]] [[2006]]}}</ref> This attack, along with the assassination of Lakshman Kadiragamar a year earlier and an unsuccessful attack against a naval vessel carrying 710 unarmed security force personnel on holiday, proved the catalysts as the European Union decided to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organisation on [[May 19]], 2006. It resulted in the freezing of LTTE assets in the member nations of the EU, and put an end to its efforts to raise funds its terror campaign in Sri Lanka. In a statement, the [[European Parliament]] said that the LTTE did not represent all the Tamils and called on it to "allow for political pluralism and alternate democratic voices in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka".<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news | url =http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053117200100.htm| title =European Union bans LTTE| work =Amit Baruah|publisher = The Hindu|date = [[May 31]], [[2006]]}}</ref> As the north and east of the country continued to be rocked by attacks, new talks were scheduled in Oslo, Norway, between June 8-9. Delegations from both sides arrived in Oslo, but the talks were canceled when the LTTE refused to meet directly with the government delegation claiming its fighters were not been allowed safe passage to travel to the talks. Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim told journalists that the LTTE should take direct responsibility for the collapse of the talks.<ref name="bbc10">{{cite news | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/06/060609_saroj-oslo.shtml| title =Collapse of talks | work =Saroj Pathirana|publisher = BBC News|date = [[June 9]], [[2006]]}}</ref> Further violence followed, including the [[Vankalai massacre]] in which family of four minority [[Sri Lankan Tamil]]s from the village of [[Vankalai]] in the district of [[Mannar]] in [[Sri Lanka]] on [[June 8]], [[2006]] were tortured and killed. Both the mother and the nine year old daughter were allegedly raped before being killed. The gory images of the corpses published by the pro rebel [[Tamilnet]] news site created controversy in Sri Lanka and abroad. The Sri Lankan army and [[Tamil Tiger]] rebels have blamed each other for the killings.<ref name=ml>{{cite web| url = http://www.themorningleader.lk/20060614/focus.html |title= Another family wiped out in Vankalai}}</ref><ref name=hhr>{{cite web|url=http://www.hhr-srilanka.org/hhr/news/summary.pdf|title=Details of few extra judicial claims}}</ref><ref name=AN>{{citeweb| url = http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=6425 | title = People terrorized after massacre of Tamil family}}</ref><ref name=pw>{{cite web| url = http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/Human_Rights/Statement_womensgroup.html |title=Statement by women for democracy and human rights}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/sri_lanka_021106.doc|title= Country of origin information report– Sri Lanka}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/Human_Rights/Statement_womensgroup.html| title=Sri Lankan Combatants Rape Women to Terrorize}}</ref>. There was also the [[Kebithigollewa massacre]] on June 15, 2006 in which the LTTE attacked a bus killing at least 64 Sinhalese civilians and prompting more air strikes by the Air Force,<ref name="usinfo1">''United States International Information Programs''", [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=June&x=20060615115032ndyblehs0.351742&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html United States Condemns Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Bus]</ref> and the assassination of Sri Lankas third highest-ranking army officer and Deputy Chief of Staff [[Parami Kulatunga|General Parami Kulatunga]] on June 26 by an LTTE suicide bomber.<ref name="bbc11">{{cite news | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5115968.stm| title =Sri Lanka general killed in blast| work =|publisher = BBC News|date = [[June 26]], [[2006]]}}</ref> These events led the [[Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission|SLMM]] to question whether a ceasefire could still be said to exist.<ref name="slmm1">{{cite web|url=http://www.slmm.lk/intros/press_releases.htm|title= Press releases|accessdate= 2006-08-07|date= |work=|publisher= Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission}}</ref> However most analysts continued to believe that the return to full-scale war was unlikely and the "low-intensity conflict" would continue.<ref name="bbc11"/> On January 8, 2008 [[D. M. Dassanayake]] non-cabinet Minister of Nation Building and MP was killed in a road side bombing just out side Colombo. ===Mavil Oya (Mavil Aru) Water dispute=== A new crisis leading to the first large-scale fighting since signing of the ceasefire occurred when the LTTE closed the [[sluice gate]]s of the Mavil Oya ([[Mavil Aru]]) [[reservoir]] on [[July 21]] and cut the [[water supply]] to 15,000 villages in government controlled areas.<ref name="bbc12">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5249884.stm | title = Sri Lanka forces attack reservoir|work =|publisher = BBC News|date=August 6, 2006|}}</ref> After initial negotiations and efforts by the SLMM to open the gates failed, the Air Force attacked LTTE positions on [[July 26]], and ground troops began an operation to open the gate.<ref name="dm1">{{cite news | url = http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/07/27/front/6.asp | title = Air Force jets hit LTTE targets|work =Sunil Jayasiri|publisher = The Daily Mirror| date =July 27, 2006|}}</ref> The sluice gates were eventually reopened on [[August 8]], with conflicting reports as to who actually opened them. Initially, the SLMM claimed that they managed to persuade the LTTE to lift the waterway blockade conditionally.<ref name="fline1"/> However a government spokesman said that "utilities could not be used as bargaining tools" by the rebels<ref name="bbc12">{{cite news |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5249884.stm|title = Sri Lanka forces attack reservoir |work = |publisher = BBC News |date = [[August 6]] [[2006]]}}</ref> and government forces launched fresh attacks on LTTE positions around the reservoir. These attacks prompted condemnation from SLMM Chief of Staff, who stated "(The government) have the information that the LTTE has made this offer." "It is quite obvious they are not interested in water. They are interested in something else."<ref name="bbc12"/> The LTTE then claimed they opened the sluice gates "on humanitarian grounds" although this was disputed by military correspondents, who stated the water began flowing immediately after the security forces carried out a precise bombing of the Mavil Aru anicut.<ref name="st2">''The Sunday Times Situation Report'', [http://sundaytimes.lk/060813/index.html Eelam war IV rages on several fronts]</ref> Eventually, following heavy fighting with the rebels, government troops gained full control of the Mavil Aru reservoir on [[August 15]].<ref name="jw1">''Iqbal Athas, Janes Defence Weekly,'' [http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw060817_1_n.shtml Full-scale fighting flares in Sri Lanka]</ref> ===LTTE offensives in Muttur & Jaffna=== As fierce fighting was ongoing in the vicinity of (Mavil Oya) Mavil Aru, the violence spread to Gokanna (Trincomalee), where the LTTE launched an attack on a crucial Sri Lanka Navy base,<ref name="fline1">{{cite news |url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2316/stories/20060825001405400.htm |title = Water war |work = B. Muralidhar Reddy |publisher = The Hindu |date = [[August 12]] [[2006]]}}</ref> and to the strategic government controlled coastal town of Muttur in early August, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 civilians and displacing 25,000 residents of the area.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5240864.stm |title = Civilians die in Sri Lanka clash |work = |publisher = BBC News |date = [[3 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> The clashes erupted on [[August 2]], 2006 when the LTTE launched a heavy artillery attack on Muttur<ref name="toi1">{{cite news |url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1859354.cms |title = 152 LTTE rebels killed in Sri Lanka |work = |publisher = [[The Times of India]] |date = [[August 4]] [[2006]]}}</ref> and then moved in, gaining control of some parts of the town.<ref name="hindu2">{{cite news |url =http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/04/stories/2006080408511500.htm |title = 34 killed as LTTE `overruns' Muttur town |work = B. Muralidhar Reddy |publisher = The Hindu |date = [[August 4]] [[2006]]}}</ref> The military retaliated, and reestablished full control over the town by [[August 5]], killing over 150 LTTE cadres in heavy fighting.<ref name="toi1"/> Soon afterwards, 17 persons working for the International French charity [[Action Against Hunger]] (ACF) in Mooduthara (Muthur), [[2006 Trincomalee massacre of NGO workers|were found executed]]. They were found lying face down on the floor of their office, with bullet wounds, still wearing their clearly marked T-shirts indicating they were international humanitarian workers. The murders prompted widespread international condemnation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/08/stories/2006080808521200.htm |title=15 NGO workers killed |accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=The Hindu}}</ref> The SLMM claimed that the government was behind the attack,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5298470.stm |title = Military 'killed Lanka aid staff' |work = |publisher = [[BBC]] |date = [[30 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> but the government denied the allegation calling it "pathetic and biased", and stated that the SLMM had "no right to make such a statement because they are not professionals in autopsy or post-mortem"<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5298470.stm | title = Sri Lanka forces attack reservoir|work =|publisher = BBC News|date=August 6, 2006|}}</ref> An official investigation launched by the government with the aid of international forensic experts is currently ongoing.<ref>[http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2007/fa007_07.html Eminent Australian Jurist to Assist Human Rights Inquiry in Sri Lanka]</ref> Meanwhile, in the north of the country, some of the bloodiest fighting since 2001 took place after the LTTE launched massive attacks on [[Sri Lanka Army]] defence lines in the Jaffna peninsula on [[August 11]]. The LTTE used a force of 400 to 500 fighters in the attacks which consisted of land and amphibious assaults, and also fired a barrage of artillery at government positions, including the key military airbase at Paluyaala ([[Palaly]]).<ref name="hindu3">{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200608121801.htm | title = At least 127 combatants killed in Lanka fighting: military |work =|publisher = The Hindu| date =[[August 12]], [[2006]]}}</ref> Initially, the Tigers broke through army defense lines around Muhamalai (Mahakanda), and advanced further north,<ref name="oi1">{{cite news | url = http://news.oneindia.in/2006/08/12/sri-lanka-rebels-say-destroy-northern-defences-advance-1155353635.html | title = Lanka rebels destroy northern defenses, advance |work =|publisher = One India| date =[[August 12]], [[2006]]}}</ref> but they were halted after 10 hours of fierce fighting. Isolated battles continued over the next few days, but the LTTE was forced to give up its offensive due to heavy casualties.<ref name="ht1">{{cite news | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1883909,000500020002.htm | title = Lanka's chilling 2006 timeline |work =PK Balachandran|publisher = [[Hindustan Times]]| date =[[December 30]], [[2006]]}}</ref> The LTTE is estimated to have lost over 250<ref name="ht1"/> cadres in the operation, while 90 Sri Lankan soldiers and sailors were also killed.<ref name="usatoday1">{{cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-15-sri-lanka_x.htm | title = Fighting rages in northern Sri Lanka in fourth week of hostilities |work = |publisher = [[USA Today]]| date =[[August 15]], [[2006]]}}</ref> ===Chencholai Air strike=== As ground battles were ongoing in the north and the east of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Air Force carried out an air strike against a facility in the rebel held Mullaitivu area, [[Chencholai airstrike|killing a number of Tamil girls]]. Although the LTTE claimed 61 girls were killed, the SLMM stated they were able to count just 19 bodies.<ref name="mc1">{{cite news |url = http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/article_1190181.php/61_girls_killed_in_airstrike_8_dead_in_Colombo_blast__2nd_Roundup_|title = SLMM counted 19 Bodies|work = |publisher = monstersandcritics.com |date = [[13 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> The government stated that it was an LTTE training facility and that the children were LTTE child soldiers,<ref name="mg1">{{cite news |url = http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/&articleid=280855|title = Unicef: Bombed orphans were not Tamil Tigers |work = |publisher = [[Mail and Guardian Online]] |date = [[15 August]] [[2006]]}}</ref> although the LTTE claimed the victims were schoolgirls attending a course on first aid at an orphanage.<ref name="mg1"/> On the same day, a convoy carrying the [[Pakistan]]i [[High Commissioner]] to Sri Lanka [[Bashir Wali Mohamed]] was attacked by a [[M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine|claymore antipersonnel mine]] concealed within an [[auto rickshaw]]. The High Commissioner escaped unhurt, but seven people were killed and a further seventeen injured in the blast.<ref name="ndtv1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?id=20040&template=Lanka&callid=0&frmsrch=1&txtsrch=Lanka | title=Lanka blast: Pak envoy safe, 7 killed | author = Rica Roy & Anisa Khan |date=August 14, 2006 | publisher =NDTV }}</ref> No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Sri Lankan government blamed the LTTE. The [[Pakistan]]i [[High Commissioner]],[[Bashir Wali Mohamed]], claimed that India was strongly believed to have carried it out,<ref name="at2">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HI22Df01.html | title=The Pakistani muscle behind Colombo | author = Sudha Ramachandran | date= [[September 22]], [[2006]] | publisher =Asia Times}}</ref> in order to intimidate Pakistan, which is one of the main suppliers of military equipment to the Sri Lankan government.<ref name="at2"/> ===Fall of Sampur === Since the resumption of violence, concerns were mounting among the military establishment that the strategically crucial<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news |url = http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=COL24804|title = Sri Lanka army battles rebels in northeast|work = Peter Apps|publisher = Reuters |date = [[September 12]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Sri Lanka Navy base in Trinconmalee was under grave threat from LTTE gun positions located in and around Sampur, which lies across the Koddiyar Bay from Trincomalee.<ref name="saag1">{{cite news |url = http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes4%5Cnote331.html|title = Sri Lanka: LTTE's moment of truth at Sampur - Update 101|work = Col R Hariharan (retd.|publisher = South Asai Analysis Group |date = [[September 8]] [[2006]]}}</ref><ref name="hindu4">{{cite news |url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090505251300.htm|title = Sri Lankan army captures Sampur|work = B. Muralidhar Reddy |publisher = The Hindu |date = [[September 5]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Artillery fired from LTTE bases in the area could potentially cripple the naval base, bringing it to a complete standstill and therefore cutting the only military supply chain to Jaffna. All movements of naval vessels were also under the constant surveillance of the LTTE.<ref name="saag1"/> These fears were backed up by a United States military advisory team which visited the island in 2005. Following the clashes in Mavil Aru (Mavil Oya) and Muttur (Mooduthara), the LTTE had intensified attacks targeting the naval base in Trincomalee (Gokanna),<ref name="hindu4"/> and in a speech on [[August 21]], Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse made clear the government intentions were to neutralize the LTTE threat from Sampur.<ref name="hindu4"/> On [[August 28]], the Sri Lankan military launched an assault to retake the LTTE camps in Sampur and the adjoining Kaddaiparichchan (Gaeta-bara-hena)and Thoppur (Thupapura) areas. This led the LTTE to declare that if the offensive continued, the ceasefire would be officially over. [[Image:STF on mission.JPG|250px|thumb|right|The Sri Lankan police "Special Task Force" in action.]] After steady progress, Sri Lankan security forces led by Brigade Commander Sarath Wijesinghe<ref name="hindu5"/> re-captured Sampur (Somapura) from the LTTE on [[September 4]], and began to establish military bases there,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=ax6hzULkWuCE|title = Sri Lanka Army captures Sampur|work = |publisher = [[Bloomberg.com]] |date = [[4 September]] [[2006]]}}</ref> as the LTTE admitted defeat and stated their cadres "withdrew" from the strategically important town.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/09/060904_sampoor_defeat.shtml| title = LTTE admits defeat in Sampoor|work = |publisher = [[BBC]] |date = [[4 September]] [[2006]]}}</ref> It marked the first significant territorial change of hands since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 2002.<ref name="iht1">{{cite news |url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/04/asia/AS_GEN_Sri_Lanka.php|title = Sri Lankan military captures key rebel territory, Tigers vow to keep fighting|work = |publisher = [[International Herald Tribune]] |date = [[September 3]] [[2006]]}}</ref> The Sri Lankan Military estimated that 33 personnel were killed in the offensive, along with over 200 LTTE cadres.<ref name="hindu5">{{cite news |url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/12/stories/2006091204601400.htm|title = Fierce battles continue in Jaffna|work = B. Muralidhar Reddy|publisher = The Hindu |date = [[September 12]] [[2006]]}}</ref> ===LTTE retaliation and further peace talks=== The LTTE struck back in October. First, they killed nearly 130 soldiers in a fierce battle at Muhamalai (Mahakanda), the crossing-point between government and LTTE controlled area in the north of the country.<ref name="dm2">{{cite news | url = http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/10/18/front/1.asp | title = No repeat of Muhamalai, President warns; orders full probe into debacle |work =Poorna Rodrigo and Sunil Jayasiri |publisher = The Daily Mirror|date=October 18, 2006|}}</ref> Just days later, a suspected LTTE suicide bomber [[2006 Digampathana truck bombing|struck a naval convoy]] in Habaraba, in the center of the country killing about 100 sailors who were returning home on leave.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_1683-Bloodbath-in-Sri-Lanka-At-Least-100-Unarmed-Sailors-Dead.html | title = Bloodbath in Sri Lanka: At Least 100 Unarmed Sailors Dead |work =|publisher = [[Playfuls.com]]|date=October 16, 2006|}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6045866.stm| title = Analysis: Sri Lanka military setbacks|work = |publisher = [[BBC]] |date = [[16 October]] [[2006]]}}</ref> It was the deadliest suicide attack in the history of the conflict.<ref name="zaman1">{{cite news | url = http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=37451 | title = Bloody Day in Sri Lanka: 103 Dead |work =|publisher = [[Zaman Daily]]|date=October 17, 2006|}}</ref> Two days later, LTTE Sea Tiger cadres launched an attack against the ''Dakshina'' naval base in the sothern port city of [[Galle]]. It was the farthest south any major LTTE attack had taken place, and involved 15 LTTE cadres who arrived in five suicide boats. The attack was repulsed by the government, and the damage to the naval base was minimum. All 15 LTTE suicide cadres are believed to have died in the attack, along with one Sri Lanka Navy sailor.<ref name="hindu6">{{cite news | url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/19/stories/2006101915420100.htm | title = LTTE attack on Galle repulsed |work =B. Muralidhar Reddy |publisher = The Hindu|date=October 19, 2006|}}</ref> Despite these incidents, both parties agreed to unconditionally attend peace talks in Geneva on October 28-29.<ref name="car1">{{cite news | url = http://conflict-religion.boker.tv/news/conflicts/hinduism/sri_lanka_tamil_tigers_ok_talks_with_sri_lanka_tamil_tigers_agree_to_unconditional_talks_with_sri_lankan_government | title = Sri Lanka - Tamil Tigers OK Talks With Sri Lanka : Tamil Tigers Agree to Unconditional Talks With Sri Lankan Government |work =BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI |publisher = Conflict and Religion|date=October 3, 2006|}}</ref> However the peace talks broke down due to disagreements over the reopening of the key A9 highway, which is the link between Jaffna and government controlled areas in the south. While the LTTE wanted the highway, which was closed following fierce battles in August, to be reopened, the government refused, stating the LTTE would use it to collect tax from people passing through and would use it to launch further offenses against government troops.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/29/europe/EU_GEN_Switzerland_Sri_Lanka_Talks.php | title = Sri Lankan peace talks end in deadlock over road blockade |work =|publisher = International Herald tribune|date=October 28, 2006|}}</ref> Following the dawn of the new year, suspected [[LTTE]] cadres carried out two bus bombings in the south of the country, killing 21 civilians. News reports stated that the attacks bore all the hallmarks of an LTTE attack.<ref name="an1">{{cite news | url =http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL157334.htm| title =Fear and loathing in south Sri Lanka after bus bombs| work =Buddhika Weerasinghe|publisher = Reuters|date = [[January 08]], [[2007]]}}</ref> The Sri Lankan government condemned the attacks and blamed the LTTE for carrying them out,<ref name="mcns1">''Media Center for National Security'', [http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=3298 The Government Condemns LTTE Terror Attacks on Civilians]</ref> although the LTTE denied any involvement. Iqbal Athas, an analyst for Jane's Defence Weekly commented that the LTTE's targeting of civilians was a cause for concern, and that further attacks against civilians couldn't be ruled out.<ref name="glp1">{{cite news | url =http://godlikeproductions.com/news/item.php?keyid=11224&category=1| title =Suspected suicide bomber attacks S.Lanka bus| work =Simon Gardner|publisher = Reuters|date = [[January 6]], [[2007]]}}</ref> Other analysts too expressed fears that LTTE attacks, which had largely been confined to military and political targets during the ceasefire period, may now increasingly target civilians as in earlier stages of a conflict. ===Government offensive in the East=== {{main|Eastern Theater of Eelam War IV}} In December 2006, the Commander of the Army and other senior government officials expressed their plans to initially drive the LTTE out of the [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern Province]] of Sri Lanka, and then use the full strength of the military to defeat the LTTE in the North of the country.<ref name=dm1>{{cite news | url =http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/01/03/front/5.asp | title =Jaffna next, Army Chief tells Mahanayakes| work =|publisher = Daily Mirror|date = [[3 January]], [[2007]]}}</ref> Among the reasons cited by the military for the offensives in the east were the need to "free the civilians in the area from the LTTE", who the military stated was firing artillery towards civilian settlements and were using 35,000 people as human shields.<ref name=reuters-12/14/2006>{{cite news | url =http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL298949.htm | title =Sri Lanka military vows to drive Tigers from east coast| work =|publisher = Reuters|date = [[December 14]], [[2006]]}}</ref> These claims were later backed by the civilians who told reporters that they were held by force by the Tamil Tigers.<ref name=iht-12/18/2006>{{cite news | url =http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/18/asia/AS_GEN_Sri_Lanka_Refugees.php | title =Fleeing Tamil refugees describe being held by separatists as Sri Lanka shelled camps| work =|publisher = International Herald Tribune|date = [[December 18]], [[2006]]}}</ref> On [[November 7]], [[2006]] in the midst of conflicting claims over 45 Tamil civilains were killed in what is known as the [[Vaharai bombing]]. Subsequently, the Army began an offensive against the LTTE on [[December 8]], [[2006]] in the Batticoloa district with the objective of taking [[Vakarai]], the principle stronghold of the LTTE in the East,<ref name=Hindu-12/9/06>{{cite news | url =http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200612091430.htm | title =Heavy fighting in Sri Lanka's restive east, 13 injured| work =|publisher = The Hindu|date = [[December 9]], [[2006]]}}</ref> but temporarily aborted it after a week of fighting due to the large number of civilians in the area and the difficulty in conducting combat operations due to the ongoing [[Monsoon]] rain.<ref name=saloon-12/16/06>{{cite news | url =http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8M22IEO0.html | title =3,000 Tamils Flee to Escape Fighting| work =GEMUNU AMARASINGHE|publisher = The Hindu|date = [[December 16]], [[2006]]}}</ref> Over the next few weeks, an estimated 20,000 civilians fled from Vaakare to Government controlled areas fearing the imminent assault. The Army launched a new offensive in mid January, and Vaakarr fell to the advancing troops on January 19, 2007. While the offensive in the east was ongoing the LTTE and others accused the government of murdering 15 civilains in the [[Padahuthurai bombing]] on [[January 02]], [[2007]] when the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] bombed what they claimed to be rebel [[LTTE]] naval base in Illuppaikadavai in Northern [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/01/02/sri_lankan_air_force_says_tamil_base_hit/ |title=Rebel base hit, says government|accessdate=2006-01-07 |format= |work=Boston.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slmm.lk/press_releases/statement%20-%20air%20strike.pdf |title= Press release on 29 April 2006 SUBJECT: Air strikes violate the Ceasefire Agreement|accessdate=2007-03-02 |format= |work=SLMM }}</ref> The Army launched assaults from three different directions, and the LTTE and Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella announced that "The people of Vaakare have been liberated from the clutches of the terrorists". The loss of Vaakare (Vakarai) has been predicted to cut off supply routes of the northern Tigers to their cadres in the east, thus weakening the Tigers' already diminishing grip on the east.<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/4211 | title = Tigers admit fall of Vakarai |publisher = Asian Tribune| date = [[20 January]], [[2007]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/4208 | title =Sri Lanka Security forces captured LTTE controlled Vaharai|publisher = Asian Tribune| | date = [[19 January]], [[2007]]}}</ref> As the military offensive was ongoing, the LTTE continued to carry out attacks against civilians in government held territory. On April 1, 2007, the Sri Lankan military accused the LTTE of killing six Sinhalese tsunami aid workers in the Eastern district of Batticaloa.<ref name='smh-4/2/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Sri Lanka says rebels killed aid workers | date=2007-04-02 | publisher= | url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Sri-Lanka-says-rebels-killed-aid-workers/2007/04/02/1175366108841.html | work =Sydney Morning Herald | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref><ref name='toi-4/2/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Tamil Tigers kill 6 civilian workers in Lanka | date=2007-04-02 | publisher= | url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/Rest_of_World/Tamil_Tigers_kill_6_civilian_workers_in_Lanka/articleshow/1842392.cms | work =Times of india | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref> The next day, suspected LTTE cadres set off a bomb abord a civilian bus in Ampara which killing seventeen people, including three children. <ref name='bbc-4/2/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Sri Lanka blast 'kills civilians' | date=2007-04-02 | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6517167.stm | work =BBC | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref><ref name='mod-bus-4/2/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Seventeen persons killed, over two dozens injured- Ampara [4th Lead] | date=2007-04-02 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070402_07 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref> Troops mostly operating in small groups of Special Forces and Commando units began a new operation in February<ref name='ra-4/12/07'/> to clear the last remaining LTTE cadres from the Eastern Province. As part of the operation, troops captured the a key LTTE base in Gokatugolla ([[Kokkadicholai]]) on March 28th,<ref name='mod-kkd-3/28/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Kokkadicholai LTTE base falls to SL Army | date=2007-03-28 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070328_06 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref> and the strategic A5 highway on April 12, bringing the entire highway under government control for the first time in 15 years.<ref name='mod-a5-4/12/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=SL Army Troops gain complete control over the A-5 Main Road | date=2007-04-12 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070411_07 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref> This meant the LTTE's presence in the east was reduced to 140 square kilometer pocket of jungle land in the Thoppigala area north-west of Madakalapuva (Batticaloa). The offensive had left nine soldiers dead along with 184 Tiger cadres, with no civilian casualties, according to military estimates.<ref name='ra-4/12/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Sri Lanka captures key highway in rebel territory | date=2007-04-12 | publisher= | url =http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1895901.htm | work =Radio Australia | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-22 | language = }}</ref> {{seealso|Operation Definite Victory}} ===Government offensive in the North. Targeting the leadership of LTTE=== {{main|Battle of the Forward Defence Lines}} Sporadic fighting in the North has been going on for months, but the intensity of the clashes has increased since September 2007. During clashes in the Forward Defence Lines, separating their forces, both sides exchange heavy artillery fire, after which military incursions follow.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7046629.stm | title = Sri Lanka on brink of all-out war | publisher = [[BBC News]]| date = 2007-10-16 | accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> By December 22, 2007 the LTTE defences at Uyilankulama and Thampanai were lost to advancing troops of the Sri Lanka Army.<ref name='mod-ma-12/22/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=LTTE defences in Mannar and Vavuniya fall to army; terrorists on the run with soaring casualties | date=2007-12-22 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071222_08 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> On December 29, 2007 the Army overran the LTTE stronghold at Parappakandal, Mannar.<ref name='mod-ma-12/29/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=SLA overruns LTTE stronghold: several LTTE leaders injured- Mannar | date=2007-12-29 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071229_04 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> <ref name='mod-ma-12/30/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=33 terrorists killed, 38 wounded: SLA overruns LTTE stronghold- Mannar | date=2007-12-30 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071230_02 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> In an interview with the 'Sunday Observer' the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said that the Army has occupied the LTTE's Forward Defence Lines and surrounded the Wanni LTTE bases from all directions. He also said that there are around 3,000 Tigers remaining and that the military targets to annihilate them within the first six months of the next year.<ref name='mod-no-12/30/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Wanni is surrounded on all prongs | date=2007-12-30 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071230_05 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> A day later there were less optimistic statements by Army, Air Force and Navy Commanders. The Army is to face in the Wanni an estimated 5,000 Tiger cadres. The Commander of the Army has intention of shifting the current battles in the Forward Defence Lines to a decisive phase in August 2008. In Commanders' view, it is quite possible to defeat the LTTE in 2008.<ref name='mod-no-12/31/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Forces' Chiefs predict Tiger extinction in 2008 | date=2007-12-31 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071231_01 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> The [[military of Sri Lanka]] claims that the leader of the LTTE [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]] was seriously injured during air strikes carried out by the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] on a bunker complex in Jayanthinagar on November 26, 2007.<ref name='mod-vp-12/19/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Prabhakaran injured in air attack | date=2007-12-19 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071219_05 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-26 | language = }}</ref> Earlier, on November 2, 2007 [[S. P. Thamilselvan]], who was the head of the rebels' political wing, was killed during another government air raid.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7074450.stm | title = Senior Tamil Tiger leader killed | publisher = [[BBC News]]| date = 2007-11-02 | accessdate = 2007-12-31}}</ref> The Sri Lanka Air Force has openly vowed to destroy the entire leadership of the LTTE.<ref name='mod-no-12/31/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Forces' Chiefs predict Tiger extinction in 2008 | date=2007-12-31 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071231_01 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | language = }}</ref> On January 5, 2008 Col. Charles, Head of LTTE Military Intelligence, was killed in claymore ambush by Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7173679.stm | title = Tamil intelligence chief killed | publisher = [[BBC News]]| date = 2008-01-06 | accessdate = 2008-01-06}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=24197 | title = LTTE's Head of Military Intelligence killed in Claymore ambush | publisher = [[TamilNet]]| date = 2008-01-06 | accessdate = 2008-01-06}}</ref> ==Sri Lanka pulls out of Ceasefire== On January 2, 2008 the Sri Lankan government officially pulled out of the Ceasefire Agreement.<ref name="afp">{{cite news | url=http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/world/20080102-sri-lanka-tamil-tiger-cease-fire-end.php | title = Government ends ceasefire with Tamil Tigers| work =|publisher = Agence France Presse|date = [[02 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref> This was amidst the demands of the defense secretary [[Gotabhaya Rajapaksa]] on December 29, 2007.<ref name="Daily">{{cite news | url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/12/29/sec01.asp | title = Ban LTTE, end truce| work =|publisher = Daily News|date = [[29 December]], [[2007]]}}</ref> Donor countries such as the United States<ref name="State">{{cite news | url= http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jan/98381.htm/ | title = Government of Sri Lanka’s Withdrawal from Ceasefire Agreement| work =|publisher = U.S. Department of State|date = [[03 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref>, Canada<ref name="Foreign">{{cite news | url= http://w01.international.gc.ca/MinPub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&Language=E&publication_id=385729&docnumber=2 | title = STATEMENT ON THE POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA| work =|publisher = Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada|date = [[03 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref>, and Norway<ref name="Ministry">{{cite news | url= http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/Press-Contacts/News/2008/Norway-regrets-the-Government-of-Sri-Lan.html?id=495581 | title = Norway regrets the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to terminate the 2002 ceasefire agreement| work =|publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs|date = [[02 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref> have shown deep regrets on this decision by the Sri Lankan government. Neighboring India has also shown its dismay of Sri Lanka's abrogation of the ceasefire.<ref name="India">{{cite news | url= http://mea.gov.in/pressbriefing/2008/01/04pb01.htm | title = In response to questions about Sri Lankan Government’s abrogation of Ceasefire Agreement of 2002, Official Spokesperson said:| work =|publisher = Ministry of External Affairs, India|date = [[04 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref>. Earlier peace talks to modifiy the CFA resulted in the LTTE diplomats refusing to discuss the matter in 2003. The LTTE is thought to have illegally landed up to ten shipments of ammunition and arms during the ceasefire period. On January 10, 2008 the LTTE formally responsed with the statement from the new head of the Tigers' political wing, B. Nadesan. According to him, the LTTE is shocked and disappointed, since the Government of Sri Lanka has unilaterally withdrawn from the ceasefire agreement without any justifications. It is further stated that even now the LTTE is ready to implement every clause of the CFA agreement and respect it one hundred percent. The LTTE claimed that, taking into account the acts of the Government, the international community should immediately remove the bans it has placed on the LTTE.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7180761.stm | title = Tamil Tigers in ceasefire appeal | publisher = BBC |date = [[10 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref> <ref name="cfa">{{cite news | url= http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=24249 | title = LTTE requests Norway to continue facilitation, urges IC's support for Tamil rights | publisher = Tamilent |date = [[10 January]], [[2008]]}}</ref> 185 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed [[April 23]] [[2008]] when troops attempted to advance toward the [[Kilinochchi]]-stronghold of the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] in the Wanni region. The incident was a setback to military efforts to weaken the rebel-organsiation. Government leaders and military commanders vowed early 2008 to "eliminate" the rebels by the end of 2008, but later extended the deadline into 2009. Until [[April 23]] [[2008]], the heavy fighting had remained focused in the town of [[Mannar]] and the area of Weli Oya.<ref name="apr2308">{{cite news | url= http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/23/srilanka.battle/index.html | title = Sources: Tigers' feint kills 100 Sri Lanka troops| work =|publisher = CNN |date = [[23 April]], [[2008]]}}</ref> On May 9, 2008 the town of Adampan was captured by Sri Lankan Army.<ref name='mod-ma-05/09/08'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Army captures Adampan Town - Mannar front | date=2008-05-09 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080509_02 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2008-05-11 | language = }}</ref> On June 30, 2008 SLA troops linked up the Mannar battle front with the Vavuniya battle front, in the southwest of Periyamadhu.<ref name='mod-ma-07/01/08'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Wanni liberation enters decisive phase; Two warfronts linked up | date=2008-07-01 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080701_01 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2008-07-01 | language = }}</ref> On July 16, 2008 SLA troops captured Vidattaltivu, the biggest town situated on the North-Western coast of the island and the main [[Sea Tiger]] base.<ref name='mod-ma-07/16/08'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Vidattaltivu Liberated; terrorists suffer fatal blow | date=2008-07-16 | publisher= | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080716_03 | work =Ministry of Defence | pages = | accessdate = 2008-07-16 | language = }}</ref> ==See also== *[[List of attacks attributed to the LTTE]] * [[Notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War]] *[[List of civil wars]] *[[Tamil Eelam]] *[[Self-determination]] *[[Ongoing conflicts]] ==References== {{reflist|3}} ==Bibliography== * Balasingham, Adele: ''The Will to Freedom - An Inside View of Tamil Resistance''. Fairmax Publishing Ltd, 2nd ed. 2003, ISBN 1-903679-03-6. * Dissanayaka, T.D.S.A.: ''War or Peace in Sri Lanka, Volume II''. Swastika (Pvt.) Ltd., Colombo 1998. * Dixit, J.N.: ''Assignment Colombo'', ISBN 81-220-0499-7. (Dixit was the Indian High Commissioner during the 1980s negotiations that led to the IPKF presence.) * Gamage, S. and Watson, I.B.: ''Conflict and Community in Contemporary Sri Lanka''. Sage, New Delhi 1999. * Gamage, S.: ''Ethnic Conflict, State Reform and Nation Building in Sri Lanka: Analysis of the Context and Suggestions for a Settlement'', in: Neelsen, John P. and Malik, Dipak: "Crises of State and Nation: South Asian States between Nation Building and Fragmentation", Manohar, New Delhi (forthcoming). * Hoole, R., Somasundaram, D., Sritharan K., and Thiranagama, R. ''The Broken Palmyra - The Tamil Crisis in Sri Lanka: An Inside Account''. The Sri Lanka Studies Institute, Claremont 1990. (Also available online[http://www.uthr.org/BP/Content.htm].) * Johnson, Robert: ''A Region in Turmoil''. Reaktion, New York and London 2005. (Covers Sri Lanka and its regional context.) * Narayan Swamy, M. R.: ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas''. Konark Publishers; 3rd ed. 2002, ISBN 81-220-0631-0. * Rajasinghan, K.T.: ''Sri Lanka: The Untold Story''. 2001-2002. (Serialised in ''Asia Times Online'' [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/others/untold_story.html]). * ''War and Peace in Sri Lanka: With a Post-Accord Report From Jaffna''. ISBN-10: 9552600014/ISBN-13: 978-9552600012, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka; 1 edition (October 1, 1987), By [[Rohan Gunaratna]]. * ''Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies''. ISBN-10:9559519905/ISBN-13: 978-9559519904, South Asian Network on Conflict Research (1993), By [[Rohan Gunaratna]]. ==External links== '''Official websites''' *[http://www.defence.lk/ Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka] *[http://www.navy.lk/ Sri Lanka Navy] *[http://www.peaceinsrilanka.org/ Government of Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat] *[http://www.ltteps.org/ LTTE Peace Secretariat] *[http://www.slmm.lk/ Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission] '''Independent reports and texts''' * [http://www.pact.lk/ Peace and Conflict Timeline (PACT) - an interactive timeline of the Sri Lankan conflict] * [http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/sri-lanka/key-texts.php Texts of key agreements in the peace process and an analysis of the process by Conciliation Resources] * [http://www.asiafoundation.org/Locations/srilanka_publications.html Report on the Sri Lankan peace process by Asiafoundation] * [http://www.hweb.org.uk/content/view/27/4/ hWeb - Sri Lanka’s recent history of ethnic conflict and political crisis originates from its colonial legacy] * [http://hrw.org/reports/2007/srilanka0807/ « Return to War: Human Rights Under Siege » ], Human Rights Watch report (August 2007) [[Category:20th century conflicts]] [[Category:21st century conflicts]] [[Category:Politics of Sri Lanka]] [[Category:History of Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Military history of Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Wars involving Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Sri Lankan society]] [[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil politics|*]] [[Category:Tamil Eelam]] [[Category:Guerrilla wars|Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Riots and civil unrest in Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Counter-terrorism in Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Rebellions in Asia]] [[de:Bürgerkrieg in Sri Lanka]] [[es:Guerra Civil de Sri Lanka]] [[fr:Guerre civile du Sri Lanka]] [[it:Guerra civile dello Sri Lanka]] [[ml:ശ്രീലങ്കയിലെ വംശീയ കലാപം]] [[nl:Conflict in Sri Lanka]] [[no:Den etniske konflikten på Sri Lanka]] [[fi:Sri Lankan sisällissota]] [[sv:Inbördeskriget i Sri Lanka]] [[ta:ஈழப் போர்]]