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ORDER OF BATTLE // April 23, 2000

Second Battle of Elephant Pass

Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.

Forces engaged

2 sides catalogued · combined 20,000 estimated

  • Military of Sri Lanka

    15,000

    Medium-confidence figure

  • Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

    5,000

    Medium-confidence figure

Battle context

The Second Battle of Elephant Pass was fought from December 1999 to April 2000 for control of the Sri Lankan military base at Elephant Pass, Jaffna. The engagement involved approximately 15,000 Sri Lankan military personnel against an LTTE force of around 5,000, with each side sustaining roughly 1,000 casualties. Elephant Pass held strategic importance as a gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula, making its control central to the broader contest over the north during the Sri Lankan civil war. The battle formed part of the sustained LTTE effort to challenge government military footholds in the region during a period of intensified conflict.

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Sources (2)

Monograph

Gota's Wat

Academic Journal

The taking of Elephant Pass

Last verified June 2026
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