Eelam War II (1990–1995) Sri Lankan Civil War

improvised armored bulldozer used ltte in first battle of elephant pass (1991), 1 of major battles. bulldozer destroyed cpl. gamini kularatne. today stands on display war memorial.

the violence continued unabated despite steps taken appease tamil sentiments, such 13th amendment (enacted in november 1987). meanwhile, chief minister of north , east provincial council, vartharaja perumal, put forward 19-point demand resolve ethnic crisis. threatened if these demands not met provincial council go ahead unilateral declaration of independence of northern , eastern provinces, in case of rhodesia. president premadasa moved dissolve council (march 1990). @ same time ltte used terror tactics scare sinhalese , muslim farmers away north , east of island, , swiftly took control of significant portion of territory. when indian peace-keeping force withdrew in 1989–90, ltte established many government-like functions in areas under control. tentative cease-fire held in 1990 ltte occupied destroying rival tamil groups while government cracked down on jvp uprising. when both major combatants had established power bases, turned on each other , cease-fire broke down.the government launched offensive try retake jaffna.

this phase of war acquired name eelam war ii, , featured unprecedented brutality. on 11 june 1990 ltte massacred 600 policemen in eastern province after had surrendered on promises of safe-conduct. government placed embargo on food , medicine entering jaffna peninsula , air force relentlessly bombed ltte targets in area. ltte responded attacking sinhalese , muslim villages , massacring civilians. 1 of largest civilian massacres of war occurred when ltte massacred 166 muslim civilians @ palliyagodella. government trained , armed home guard muslim units, took revenge on tamil villages. there significant massacre of tamil civilians attributed government forces, in eastern province.

notable international jurist neelan thiruchelvam, in speech @ ices-colombo, indicated appropriate investigations massacres , disappearances of civilians including many children in sathurukondan, eastern university, mylanthanai , mass murder , burial of school children @ sooriyakanda hampered adoption of emergency regulations contributed climate of impunity. along roadsides in north , east, burning bodies became common sight. throughout country, government death squads hunted down, kidnapped or killed sinhalese or tamil youth suspected of sympathizing jvp or ltte, respectively. in october 1990 ltte expelled muslims residing in northern province. total of 72,000 muslims forced leave homes, taking nothing clothes on backs.

the largest battle of war took place in july 1991, when 5,000 ltte fighters surrounded army s elephant pass base, controlled access jaffna peninsula. more 2,000 died on both sides in month-long siege, before 10,000 government troops arrived relieve base.

in february 1992 series of government offensives failed capture jaffna. lt. gen. denzil kobbekaduwa maj. gen. vijaya wimalaratne , rear adm. mohan jayamaha, died on 8 august 1992 @ araly (aeraella) point jaffna due land mine blast. deaths badly affected military morale. ltte, part, scored major victory when 1 of suicide bombers killed sri lankan president ranasinghe premadasa in may 1993. in november 1993 ltte defeated army in battle of pooneryn. attack left 532 sri lankan soldiers , 135 sailors either dead or missing in action.