The army began probing attacks days prior to the main operation , while air attacks targeted militants in Valikamam following the Pettah bomb blast . On 18 May the army made several forays from its camps in Palai , Thondamanaru , Kurumbasiddy , Kattuvan and Navatkiuli . In one of these forays the army killed the LTTE Jaffna District leader Anthony Kaththiar ( alias Radha ) who had carried out the Anuradhapura massacre . The offensive started in the morning of 26 May 1987 , with air force helicopters dropping sticks of special forces across the lagoon to block exit points from Vadamarachchi which the militants may try to take . The dug-in awaiting the progress of the main operation . Another batch of commandos were dropped on the beach around Manalkadu to prevent any escape to the sea where the navy had deployed its gun boards . At first light air force plans dropping leaflets advising the civilian population to take shelter in designated safe zones and a dusk to dawn curfew was enforced across the peninsula . An hour later , the air force began attacks with its ground attack air crafts and bombers
Anuradhapura massacre
Anuradhapura massacre
Vadamarachchi Operation