Document #1303587
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Omanthai, controlled by the LTTE since 1990
(AFP 15 May 1998), is a small agricultural community located
approximately 14 km north of Vavuniya on the Jaffna-Vavuniya
north-south highway (Reuters 14 May 1997).
On 13 May 1997 approximately 20,000 Sri
Lankan troops began Operation Jaysikuru (Jay Sikuru or Operation
Sure/Certain Victory) to open the strategic Vavuniya-Jaffna highway
linking Vavuniya with the Jaffna Peninsula (AFP 15 May 1997;
Reuters 30 May 1997).
The following day Sri Lankan forces
captured Omanthai from the LTTE (Reuters 14 May 1997; AFP 15 May
1997; The Hindu 14 May 1997). At that time, Reuters
reported that Omanthai "constituted the southern forward defences"
of the LTTE and was a "heavily-fortified rebel-held frontline town"
in the Vanni (14 May 1997). Throughout the summer the LTTE attacked
army positions around Omanthai but were unsuccessful at recapturing
the town (ibid. 23 May 1997; ibid. 30 May 1997; Sri Lanka News
Update 4 Aug. 1997; The Hindu 5 Aug. 1997).
On 21 February 1998 the Colombo
English-language newspaper the Daily News reported that
Sri Lankan forces remained in control of Omanthai. Documentary
sources consulted since February 1998 do not report a change in
control of Omanthai.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the
list of additional sources consulted in researching this
Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 May 1997.
"Sri Lankan Army Launches Fresh Assault on Tigers, Toll Mounts to
42." (NEXIS)
Daily News [Colombo]. 21
February 1998. Paneetha Ameresekere. "Fall of Mankulam, Only a
Matter of Time." [Internet] http://www.lanka.net/lakehouse
[Accessed 13 Aug. 1998]
The Hindu [Chennai/Madras]. 5
August 1997. P.S. Suryanarayana. "Sri Lanka LTTE, the Loser in
Omanthai Encounter." (NEXIS)
_____. 14 May 1997. "International
Events in May 1997." [Internet] http://www.the-hindu.com/events
[Accessed 13 Aug. 1998]
Reuters. 30 May 1997. BC Cycle. "Sri
Lanka Rebels Shell Army Positions." (NEXIS)
_____. 23 May 1997. BC Cycle. Mohan
Samarasinghe. "Sri Lankan Rebels Shell Army Positions in North."
(NEXIS)
_____. 14 May 1997. BC Cycle. "Advancing
Sri Lanka Army Takes Rebel Frontline Town." (NEXIS)
Sri Lanka News Update
[Colombo]. 4 August 1997. "Forces Repulse LTTE Attack at Omanthia."
[Internet] http://www.lanka.net/Directory/lankaupdate
[Accessed 13 Aug. 1998]
Additional Sources Consulted
Sri Lanka Monitor [London].
Monthly. January-June 1998.
Sri Lanka News Update
[Colombo]. Monthly. February 1998-present.
Electronic sources: Internet,
LEXIS/NEXIS.