ABSTRACT
The East had always been a sideshow to the campaigns and battles in the North, but it was a sideshow with serious strategic significance. A considerable number of troops were required to hold it, and keeping the region under control while launching major campaigns in the North was a daunting task. As the battle for the Wanni raged, there was every sign that the government was losing the struggle for the dominance of the East. The Security Forces tried to stem the tide by making forays into rebel-dominated territory in the East. It was clear that repeated attempts by Security Forces had failed to dislodge the rebels from the hinterland of the East, especially in the Batticaloa District. The Tigers roamed freely in the hinterlands of the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts. One military source was quoted as saying that hunting the Tigers in the East was like punching holes in a paper bag.
