Battle of Chalai

The Battle of Chalai was an armed confrontation over control of Chalai, Sri Lanka between the 55 Division of the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the Sri Lankan civil war, fought in February 2009. Chalai was the final Sea Tiger base held by the LTTE during the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV.[2] Fighting lasted for five days, following which the 55 Division took control of the area.[3] During the engagement, one soldier was wounded when a bomb carried by a child between 13 and 16 years of age exploded. The Sri Lankan Army indicates this suicide bomber was sent by the LTTE. Witnesses describe the boy behaving as though he had been "drugged or severely harassed before the mission."[4]

Battle of Chalai
Part of Sri Lankan Civil War,
2008–2009 SLA Northern offensive
DateFebruary 2–6, 2009
Location
Chalai, North of Mullaitivu
Result Sri Lankan Army victory
Territorial
changes		 LTTE-controlled area decreased to 200 square kilometers[1]
Belligerents
Military of Sri Lanka Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka:
Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya,
Brig. Prasanna Silva		 Velupillai Prabhakaran:
Vinayagam †
Strength
Sri Lanka Army:
55 Division		 Unknown

See also
  • List of Sri Lankan Civil War battles

References
  1. Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka) / Sri Lanka Armed Forces Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Two hour battle in Chalai Sea Archived November 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. LankaeNews.com. Accessed March 24, 2012.
  3. "Troops capture Chalai". Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, Sri Lanka. 2009-02-06. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  4. "Child suicide bomber sent to army frontline in Chalai". Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, Sri Lanka. 2009-02-06. Archived from the original on 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-06-11.

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