Eelam War III facts for kids
The Eelam War III was a part of a longer conflict in Sri Lanka. It started on 19 April 1995. This war began when a group called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, sank two Sri Lankan navy boats. This was the third major fight between the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tigers. There were also Eelam Wars I and II before this one, and Eelam War IV happened later.
Key Battles
On the night of 18 July 1996, Tamil Tiger forces attacked a military base in Mullaithivu. This base was an important army headquarters. Many soldiers were killed or went missing during this attack.
In April 2000, the LTTE's naval branch, called the Sea Tigers, captured a place known as Elephant Pass. This was a big win for them. They had tried to capture Elephant Pass before in 1991 but had lost that battle.
By 2001, both sides were very tired from fighting. They decided to end this part of the war. The Tamil Tigers became known for their strong fighting skills. However, this peace did not last, and it led to the Eelam War IV later on.
Sad Events for Civilians
Kallarawa Incident
On 25 May 1995, a very sad event happened in Kallarawa, Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers were involved in an attack where 42 people, including men, women, and children, lost their lives. Other people living there managed to escape the danger.
Gonagala Incident
Another sad event took place in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka on 18 September 1999. More than 50 people, including women, men, and children, were killed during the night while they were sleeping.
