Page 18 - journal_2018_july_uploaded_2022_mar_16

Sri Lanka Navy Journal 5
‘Operation SEA BREEZ’ was launched to end the besieged of Mullaitivu Army
Complex. It was a proper joint Operation with the involvement of all three services. Whilst
SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Weeraya effectively providing NGFS and targeting enemy Gun
Points, SLNS Kandula and SLNS Pabbatha beached three nautical miles north of Mulaitivu
and troops were landed. It is one of the most successful amphibious operations ever to be
carried out by the Sri Lankan military during the war.

On 11th June 1990, the LTTE attacked Valaivadi Fishing Village and the adjoining
Army detachment. The enemy attacked the Army detachment and village. The attack was
so fierce and heavy that they could not hold on to it. SLNS Sooraya went very close to the
location and provided with gun fire support to evacuate the whole fishing community in that
village and the army personnel. A total of 225 people were carried on the tiny deck of SLNS
Sooraya and had transferred them safely to Trincomalee.

Operation Balawegaya can be considered as the most successful amphibious operation
that was carried out by the Sri Lankan armed forces during the war against the LTTE.
Amphibious assault landing was the only option available to reinforce the besieged Elephant
Pass Army Complex. The operation was planned and, carried out by deception and launched
within a period of 48 hours. The enemy has wrongly guessed that Vettalaikeni is a possible
landing point and they had highly fortified the beachhead with a large number of gun points
aiming at sea. On 14th July 1991 SLNS Weeraya, Ranakamee, Rakshaka and Sooraya provided
NGFS effectively to neutralize the heavy enemy fire. If not for the amphibious landing at
Veththelakerni, Elephant Pass Army Complex could have been overruned by the LTTE.

In March 1991, Silavathurai Army Camp came under enemy attack. Reinforcement
by ground troops was not possible. The Navy and the Air Force had to undertake the task of
carrying out reinforcement. SLNS Ranakamee took a risk, maneuvering through the reef off
the coast of Silavathurai, and provided with fire support and neutralized the enemy gun fire
which allowed own troops to land and evacuate casualties. This was one of the operations that
was carried out by a Gun Boat under very difficult conditions.

On 19th April 1995 SLNS Ranasuru and SLNS Sooraya were berthed alongside the
Two Fathom Jetty of Trincomalee harbour along with SLNS Jagatha and SLNS Ranaviru. It
was the night that LTTE broke the 100 day truce with the Government. Ranasuru and Sooraya
were sunk at the jetty by LTTE mines killing all the sailors who were in quarter deck area of
Ranasuru.

On 15th July 1995 SLNS Ranakamee with some other FAC attacked and destroyed
a cluster of LTTE boats off KKS harbour while those boats were coming to attack the KKS
harbour, foiling the enemy plan. However, SLNS Edithara was exploded at KKS harbour due
to an LTTE mine that night.

On 9th August 1995, SLNS Ranakamee detected a fast moving target approaching
towards the convoy off Alampil area whilst escorting the Trinco bound convoy. SLNS
Ranakamee started approaching towards the target and identified it as a fast moving suicide