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1983-2009 Sri Lanka Civil War

Spanning decades, the Sri Lankan Civil War involved shifting frontlines, insurgency, and counter-insurgency in both urban and jungle settings. These studies use reports from both the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, satellite imagery, and firsthand battlefield exploration to assess key operations and the tactical evolution of a long-running conflict.

📘 Recommended Reading →

🪖 Museum Artefacts →

Australian Army soldiers instructs Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel during a trench clearing serial as part of OP KUDU Rotation 10 in the United Kingdom. *** Local Caption *** Under Operation KUDU, the ADF has deployed personnel to Europe and the UK in support of Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression.

💡 Tactical Innovations: Lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War

Modern warfare, as seen on the Eastern Front, is defined by fragile logistics, pervasive drone use, and small, decentralised teams operating with limited support, which forces junior leaders to make rapid decisions under extreme uncertainty. Success depends on cognitive skills over technology, including disciplined situational awareness, procedural identification, adaptive leadership, and the ability to operate independently without reliable resupply, evacuation, or higher command control.

Photos of the Tamil Tiger armoured bulldozer immediately following the battle—courtesy of the small museum beside the memorial.

⚔️ First Battle of Elephant Pass, Sri Lanka,
10 July – 9 August 1991

Elephant Pass is in the Vanni District of the Northern Province. It is a critical piece of terrain because it controls access between the mainland/Kilinochchi district and Jaffna Peninsula. Elephant Pass was the scene of much fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers). The First Battle of Elephant Pass was the largest single engagement of the 26-year Civil War.