Battle of Mavil Aru

01The sluice gates

Mavil Aru is a small irrigation anicut south of Trincomalee, in an area then held by the LTTE, that fed paddy fields in government-held villages downstream. In July 2006 the Tigers closed its gates. The Nordic ceasefire monitors tried to negotiate, without result. On 26 July the air force bombed LTTE positions and the army began a ground operation toward the anicut. It was the first major ground offensive since the ceasefire of 2002.

02From Mavil Aru to the east

The LTTE answered with attacks around Trincomalee harbour and on Muttur town across the bay. The army fought its way to the anicut and the gates were opened again in August. From there it pressed on to Sampur, the LTTE base overlooking Trincomalee harbour, which it took in September 2006. The fighting spread through the Eastern Province, and the 2002 agreement, though not formally ended until January 2008, was a dead letter.