Third phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, from 1995 to 2002
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Eelam War III
Part of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Date
19 April 1995 – 22 February 2002
Location
Sri Lanka
Result
Cease fire Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam tactical victory[1]
Belligerents
Sri Lanka
Military of Sri Lanka
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994–2005)
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Strength
130,000
13,500
Casualties and losses
10,838
2,746
v
t
e
Eelam War III
Sooraya and Ranasuru
Weli Oya (1995)
Jaffna (1995)
Riviresa
Mullaitivu (1996)
Sath Jaya
Edibala
Pulukunawa
Vavunathivu
Jayasikurui (Thandikulam–Omanthai, Battle of Kanakarayankulam (1997))
Rivi bala
Kilinochchi (1998)
Rana Gosa
Oddusuddan
Kinihira
A-9 highway
2nd Elephant Pass
Rivikirana
Bandaranaike
v
t
e
Sri Lankan Civil War
Main topics
Eelam War I
Indian intervention
Eelam War II
Eelam War III
Eelam War IV
Battles and operations
Bombings and terrorist attacks
Other military attacks
Mass graves
Chemmani
Duraiappa
Mirusuvil
Sooriyakanda
Massacres
Black July
Kokkilai massacre
1985 Valvettiturai
Kumudini
Akkaraipattu
Prawn farm
Eastern University
1990 Batticaloa
Massacre of policemen
1991 Kokkadichcholai
Air Lanka Flight 512
Jaffna lagoon
Aluth Oya massacre
Navaly
Nagerkovil-Allaipiddy
Vankalai
Central Bus Station bombing
Muttur
Kent and Dollar Farm
Anuradhapura
Aranthalawa
Kattankudi mosque
Palliyagodella
Lionair Flight 602
Kallarawa
October 1995
Gonagala
Kebithigollewa
Jaffna Hospital
Central Bank bombing
Dehiwala train bombing
1989 Valvettiturai
Habarana massacre
Main article: Sri Lankan Civil War
Eelam War III is the name given to the third phase of armed conflict between the Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
After the period of 100 days cease-fire the hostilities broke out on 19 April 1995. The LTTE - Sea Tigers planted explosives in two gun boats known as SLNS 'Sooraya' and 'Ranasuru', and blew them up.
Also, a new weapon "Stinger", a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile was used in this conflict by the LTTE. This was used to take down two Sri Lankan Air Force AVRO aircraft flying over the Jaffna peninsula.
Eelam War III also marked the rising success of the LTTE, as they managed to capture key districts such as Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, and took over the Elephant Pass base. With the path clear towards the Muhumalai and Nagarkovil FDLs, the LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves IV in efforts to capture the Jaffna peninsula.
By the end of Eelam War III, the LTTE had control of nearly 30% of the entire island.
^The Tamil Tigers inflicted heavier casualties to the Sri Lankan Army despite being outnumbered 10 times. They also conquered large chunks of territory in 2000-2002.
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indicated that the plane had been shot down by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) using a man-portable surface-to-air missile, which has since been...
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attacks carried out by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the separatist civil war in Sri Lanka between the government and the Tamil Tigers...
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an Eelam Tamil revolutionary. Prabhakaran was a major figure of Tamil nationalism, and the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)...
on 19 April 1995 sinking SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Ranasuru that set off EelamWarIII. In the days that followed, the LTTE shot down two Sri Lanka Air Force...
Global Information
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
