Fighting in the east was more or less over in a year. The Tigers closed the Mawilaru sluice gates in late June 2006 and a year later they lost all real estate holdings in the east. Mawilaru was closed on June 22, 2006 and Toppigala was gained by government forces on July 15, 2007. Compared to what has been witnessed in the northern theatre, the fighting in the east was swift and decisive - there was no arguing who held the upper hand. There was no long term attrition over the line of control.

As fighting ended in the east, the fissure points in the northern line of control became apparent. Small confrontations in the Periyathampanai and Irani Illuppaikulam  areas on the district border between Mannar and Vavuniya, ahead of the Mannar-Vavuniya FDL were being reported even before Toppigala fell into government hands.

Fighting spreads

The fighting now has spread right along the two FDLs  north and south of the Wanni. Government troops are arrayed against the Tigers at Adampan, north of Giant Tank, Palampiddi, Irani Illupiakulam, and north of Vavuniya. On the northern line, there have been clashes right along the 11km line from  Kilali through Muhamalai to Nagarkovil separated by the small loch.

The epicentre of fighting has been shifting and last year defence specialists observed that the Welioya sector leading right into the Tiger military stronghold of Mulaithivu was likely to be the next point of contact.

The Tigers also banned all outside agencies from working without restrictions especially in Mulaithivu heartland fearing that information was being ferreted out.

Late last year, in December 2007, troops began preparations to assault the Tiger FDLs in the Welioya sector. The first clashes were reported in early January 2008. Clashes were reported in Kokkuthuduwai on the coast, Kokilai and Janakapura, further southwest.

Six months later troops have advanced into Tiger held areas from Kalyanapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Janakapura and Kokkuthuduwai. According to officers in charge troops may have gained over 40 sq km and killed over 600 cadres in the fighting. The figures however have been rejected by the Tigers.

The importance of the sector and the army's push could be gauged by the fact that Tigers positioned the late Balraj in charge of the Welioya sector despite his chronic heart condition.

Balraj had relied heavily on artillery fire to slow down the advancing forces. The latest information trickling down from the sector suggests that Swarnam may have been posted there.

Special significance

The last location where Swarnam, the former Trincomalee military head was reported as battling advancing forces were in areas west of Madhu. 

The Welioya sector has special significance in addition to it leading right into the Tiger military heartland, beyond the FDL, and deep within the jungles lay  one of the most famous bases maintained by the Tigers, the One Four Base. It is known to have sheltered Tiger Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan in the late 1980s when the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) launched a concerted effort to capture the Tiger Leader. The base with its remote and hostile location gained more prominence after the IPKF was thwarted from overrunning it.

Sprawling complex

The name One Four is derived from the fact that it was a sprawling complex of 14 camps - some satellite camps providing security to the inner camps and security and fortifications becoming increasingly heavy, moving towards the interior.

The only available description of the camp complex is from Anton Balasingham's widow, Adele Balasingham who in her book Will To Freedom described a trip to the camp while Vellupillai Pirapaharan sheltered from the IPKF.

From her description in the book, she probably approached the camp from the eastern side, moving through the Alampil jungles. The description is laced with the awe-inspiring tone present right through the book. According to Adele, the Tigers had cleared the undergrowth of thick "virgin" jungles and created a virtual village that was hidden from aerial reconnaissance by the thick canopy that was left untouched.

The Balasingham visit to the base came after the first round of talks between the Ranasinghe Premadasa administration and the Tigers in April 1989.  According to information revealed an air force helicopter dropped them close to the Alampil jungles, south of Mulaithivu town proper and from there they trekked by foot. The party included the Balasinghams, Yogarathnam Yogi and several others, and Anton Balasingham had been carried on a chair tied to poles due to his health conditions.

"Our cadres led us down the steps into a room about 30 to 40 feet underground. To our amazement, we could see that this subterranean haven of tunnels and rooms had been chiselled out of the underground rocks. Our room had been carved out, high enough to stand up in and move around comfortably."

The Tiger leader had suggested that visitors also stay in underground bunkers to avoid IPKF shelling.

Freezing

"Pirapaharan's room was even deeper underground than ours. Low-lying roofs constructed over the bunkers and banks to divert water prevented the monsoon rain from pouring in and flooding the bunkers. Stronger than concrete, this underground granite structure stood up to the heavy downpours of monsoon rains when the entire jungle turned into a muddy quagmire. There was only one problem with this ingenious set up - a difficulty, which had it been at all possible, our cadres would certainly have overcome. But on this matter they had no control.

"Since we were deep into the earth where the sun's heat has no access, the room was absolutely freezing, particularly at night. My bones ached from the cold and I wondered how it could be endured over a sustained period of time. But obviously it had been without any ill effects."

She says that cadres dug wells 60 feet deep, but sometimes would not hit water. The IPKF believed that the Tigers shifted to the thick jungles of the Wanni that they knew very well, so as to face the better armed Indians on terrain that suited their brand of war better.

The shift took place after the October 11, 1987 assault on the Jaffna University to capture Pirapaharan and establishment of IPKF control over Jaffna thereafter. Not only Pirapaharan but other Tiger senior leaders like intelligence head Pottu Amman also sought shelter in the complex in 1988 according to Sri Lankan defence expert Rohan Gunaratna in his book Sri Lanka's Ethnic Crisis And National Security. According to Adele, Pottu Amman had been injured, and needed rest and recuperation as the Tigers fled Jaffna in late 1987.

What happened then

Heavy confrontations between the  Tigers and the IPKF were reported at Alampil (May '88), Nittukaikulam (Sept '88) and Nayuru (April-May '89). The Tigers also used the lagoon and the waterways to their advantage.

The IPKF launched operations to take out Tiger camps in the jungles. Two such operations - Trishul and Viraat in 1998 ironically encompassed the same areas where the army is now actively engaging the Tigers - Mannar, Vavuniya and Mulaithivu.

The Tigers would lay in wait to attack the IPKF at locations and times of their choosing, and booby traps, trap mines and improvised explosives were used heavily.

The One Four Base would have definitely undergone many changes in the ensuing 20 years from operations Trishul and Viraat, and there could be more camps in the complex now which some say are as many as 20. At present, as in 1988 also, the IPKF came across heavily built concrete bunkers, some equipped with generators.

Soon after the departure of the IPKF there were also operations by the government forces to clear the area with success. However the Tigers gradually moved back into the Alampil jungles and relocated themselves in the area that has been referred to as One Four Base. There have been questions raised over whether it is the original base of the late '80s that is there or a completely new set up. Sceptics also don't believe that the Tiger leader is likely to be anywhere near.

The military now says that at least one of the satellite camps of the famed One Four Base is under its control. That was after June 8, when troops from the 59th Division  reached the base where they found heavily fortified bunkers.

Clashes have intensified in the Welioya sector after the fall of Madhu and according to the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka the troops are about 21 km from Pirapaharan's main hideout. Last week too, troops were operating ahead of the defences in Janakapura, Kiriibbanweva and Kokkuthuduwai. Continuous small clashes were reported from the Welioya sector last week as well.

Long way to go

The advance has been slow in the Wanni, partly because of the heavy resistance put up by the Tigers and the heavy fortifications. The military has said that the ploy is one of wear and tear, not an effort to hold land, but to undermine Tiger resources, manpower and supply lines on several locations.

The army has cut off some of the local access routes both in Mannar and in Welioya, but there is still a long way to go.