The Sri Lankan Civil War was a war fought on the Island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on 23 July 1983, there was an intermittent insurgency against the Government by The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (also known as the Tamil Tigers), which fought to create an independent Tamil state in the North and East of the Island. After a 26-year military campaign, the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, bringing the Civil War to an end.
In 2003, during the Civil War, I traveled with a rented car via the A9 corridor – with warnings for landmines on both sides – from Anuradhapura to Jaffna. An interesting moment was passing the border between the government area and the area occupied by the Tamils in Vanni. The border was checked by young Tamil girls, who visited every car inside and out. In Jaffna I stayed at the UN representation.
The Asia development bank has invested money for a rapid improvement of the A9 between Kandy and Jaffna.
Mine warning sign along the A9 road to Jaffna.
North of Vauniya a bordercheckpoint with time absorbing paperwork and checks, marks the entrance of LTTE occupied land.
Secret shot of LTTE border checkpoint.
Killinochi: Because of the more than twenty year old war between the LTTE and the Srilankan army most buildings are destroyed.
Killinochi area: LTTE billboard. The farmers feed the hungry Tamil soldiers.
Cemetery of suicide bombers in the neighbourhood of Killinochchi.
Killinochi: Tamil fighters cemetery. In the neighbourhood of Kilinochchi is a Tamil fighters cemetery with a section of (mainly female) suicide bombers: one of them killed India's Ravi Nehru.
Killinochchi area: Along the A9 to Jaffna souvenirs of the war ly scattered.
Elephant Pass between the Main Island and the Jaffna Peninsula.
Destroyed tank. Elephant Pass. In May 2000 ,after a terrible battle, the LTTE captured Elephant Pass, the strategic gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula.
Jaffna: Partly rebuilt mosque.
Jaffna: Destroyed houses.
Jaffna: Destroyed mosque in Moorstreet.
Jaffna: Destroyed mosque.
Jaffna: Man standing in ruins of destroyed mosque.
Jaffna: Man standing in destroyed house.
Jaffna: Two girls in front of a ruined building.
Jaffna: Ruins of the war - a former cinema.
Jaffna: LTTE weapon and slogans on a wall
Jaffna: Sri Lankan Army monument.
Jaffna: Schoolclass in the open air. The schoolbuilding is destroyed.
Jaffna: Returnee camp.
Jaffna: Returnees in improvised housing.
Jaffna: Returned refugees try to make a new start.
Building area for new houses.
Jaffna: Returning refugees are building a new house.
Daily life recovers. Woman sells fish in the street.
Economy in the Jaffna area is recuperating. A man fills a motorcycle tank with a bottle of petrol.
Jaffna: Schoolchildren walking on the mainroad, because the verges are infected with mines.
Personal mine victim
Jaffna: Workshop for artificial limbs.
Jaffna: Workshop for artificial limbs.
Military exercise of the Sri Lankan Army.