In January 1997 heavy fighting around Paranthan and the Elephant Pass complex took the lives of 223 Army troops . On 27 September 1998 the LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves II and , after heavy fighting , captured Kilinochchi , winning the Battle of Kilinochchi . Clashes around the Kilinochchi forward defense line claimed the lives of 1206 soldiers that year . In March 1999 , in Operation Rana Gosa , the government tried invading the Vanni from the south.The army made some gains , taking control of Oddusuddan ( Oththan-thuduva ) and Madhu , but could not dislodge the LTTE from the region . In September 1999 the LTTE massacred 50 Sinhalese civilians at Gonagala
massacred 50 Sinhalese civilians at Gonagala
Gonagala massacre
Sri Lankan Civil War