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Home > Tamils - a Nation without a State > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Tamil Armed Resistance > Reports of Armed Conflict > Sri Lanka Launches Major Offensive at Kilaly
SRI LANKA LAUNCHES MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN JAFFNA
HEAVY FIGHTING FLARES UP IN KILALY SECTOR
Press Release from LTTE
Headquarters, Tamil Eelam
16 January 2001
The Sri Lankan armed forces launched a major offensive operation today against the LTTE's defence positions along the Kilaly- Eluthumadduval-Nagar Kovil axis in the southern most sector of the Jaffna Peninsula.
Thousands of Sri Lankan combat troops supported by battle tanks and heavy artillery launched an offensive assault in the early hours of the morning today. Soviet and Israeli made MIG fighters and Kfir bombers continues to provide aerial cover to the Sri Lankan combat columns.
Heavy fighting continued all day as the LTTE fighting formations put up fierce resistance. The LTTE is committed to a defence war as the organisation has declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities for a month ending on the 24th January and strictly observing peace.
The LTTE leadership has conveyed to the Norwegian peace envoy Mr. Erik Solheim through their chief negotiator in London, Mr. Anton Balasingham, of an impending all-out military offensive and requested him to impress upon Sri Lanka government that such military action will intensify the war and seriously impair the current peace initiatives.
Unable to hold positions on militarily disadvantageous territory with the constraints of a self-imposed cease-fire and other logistic problems, the LTTE made a calculated strategic withdrawal from areas closer to the Jaffna city. Emboldened by the limited victories facilitated by the LTTE's strategic withdrawal the Sri Lankan military establishment has launched the current offensive with the strategic objective of re-taking Elephant Pass.