Sri Lankan Civil War
July 23, 1983 – May 18, 2009 · Jaffna
Result Sri Lankan government victory
War between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who fought for an independent Tamil state in the north and east. The army defeated the Tigers in 2009; up to 100,000 people died.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Government of Sri Lanka
Other
R. Venkataraman
belligerent leader
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Defence Secretary, Directed the final offensive
Chandrika Kumaratunga
belligerent leader
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
belligerent leader
Junius Richard Jayewardene
belligerent leader
Ranasinghe Premadasa
belligerent leader
Mahinda Rajapaksa
President of Sri Lanka, Led the final offensive
Strength and losses
India Strength 100,000
Sri Lanka Killed 28,708
Units
Battles and events 8
- Eelam War I July 23, 1983 – July 29, 1987 · Peace deal negotiated by India, and arrival of Indian peacekeepers
- Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war July 29, 1987 – March 24, 1990 · Withdrawal after ceasefire
- 1988 Maldives coup attempt November 3, 1988
- Eelam War II June 10, 1990 – January 9, 1995 · Overall indecisive, Major territorial gains for the LTTE
- Eelam War III April 19, 1995 – February 22, 2002 · Cease fire Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam tactical victory
- Eelam War IV July 26, 2006 – May 18, 2009
- Battle of Kilinochchi (2008–2009) November 23, 2008 – January 2, 2009 · Sri Lankan Army victory
- Battle of Mullaitivu (2009) January 2–25, 2009 · Sri Lankan Army victory