Operation Balavegaya - Aftermath

Aftermath

The LTTE suffered heavy casualties 573 Tamil Tigers including 123 women fighters were killed (according to Adele Ann Balasingham) in the battle.

According to government official figures, 202 army personnel were killed in the battle to retain Elephant Pass base. There were no official figures of the injuries sustained by the armed forces. Major General Sarath Munasinghe, at that time the Sri Lankan army spokesman and who wrote "A Soldier's Version" after his retirement, writes, "On 4 August 1991, I was lucky to personally witness the link up with the EPS camp. It was the biggest victory ever over the LTTE at that time. There was joy and smiles all over. Prabhakaran's much publicized, 'Mother of all Battles,' was defeated. 202 valiant men including some prominent officers had laid their lives. Over one thousand terrorists were killed at EPS and during the operation to link up. Many citizens voluntarily sent in sweets, chutney, cigarettes and many other food items to the soldiers in the battlefield. There were banners and posters praising the soldiers in many parts of the country.".