The first mortar shell screamed just after dawn on 10 June 1990.
It tore through the coral-stone ramparts of Jaffna Fort, the blast rattling every window in the city. Inside the pentagonal walls, 130 men—soldiers of the Sinha Regiment and young police recruits—looked at one another and knew: this was no skirmish. This was a siege.
For 107 days, the old Portuguese-Dutch-British fortress became the eye of a storm that swallowed the peninsula. Outside, LTTE snipers hid in the Public Library, mortars thundered from behind the Post Office, and a home-built monster called the Pasilan 2000 prowled the streets. Inside, the defenders rationed rice, drank brackish well water, and buried their dead between crumbling colonial walls.
I wasn’t behind those ramparts, but I treated the men who were. At Palaly Base Hospital, we waited for helicopters that came in low over the lagoon, carrying boys with limbs shredded by shrapnel and policemen who hadn’t seen their families in a hundred days.
Walk today along those same ramparts. Beneath the grass lie the bunkers where men prayed, the corners where fourteen soldiers were buried, and the echoes of a siege that still whispers through Jaffna’s wind.
Jaffna Fort: The Fortress That Became a Battlefield
Jaffna Fort stands today as one of Sri Lanka’s most imposing reminders of the island’s turbulent colonial and post-colonial past. Situated on fifty-five acres in the heart of Jaffna city and overlooking the shallow waters of the Jaffna Lagoon, its coral and limestone ramparts dominate the landscape, symbolizing centuries of strategic occupation. Constructed, expanded, and successively occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, the fort contains remnants of administrative buildings, barracks, chapels, warehouses, and bastions. Its pentagonal, star-shaped layout is characteristic of seventeenth-century European coastal fortifications.
For many decades after independence, the fort stood in relative obscurity. However, the outbreak of Sri Lanka’s civil war in the early 1980s transformed it from a historical monument into a heavily militarized stronghold. Between 1983 and 1995, it witnessed multiple sieges, fierce battles, and dramatic shifts in control. Among these, the 107-day siege from June to September 1990 remains the most renowned—illustrating both the Sri Lankan state’s determination to maintain sovereignty in the North and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) resolve to seize symbolic ground.
This essay explores the history and enduring significance of Jaffna Fort, tracing the events leading up to the 1990 siege, the conditions during the battle, the daring rescue attempts, and the broader implications of this confrontation within Sri Lanka’s long and painful conflict.
Historical Development of Jaffna Fort
Portuguese Origins (1618)
The Portuguese first arrived in the Jaffna Peninsula in the early sixteenth century and gradually asserted control over the local rulers. In 1618, under the direction of Phillipe de Oliveira, they constructed a substantial fortification at Jaffna to consolidate their authority. Built using locally sourced coral limestone and incorporating European defensive principles, the fort served both as an administrative center and a military garrison.
Dutch Expansion (1658–1795)
A century later, the Dutch East India Company captured the fort after a bitter siege, driving out the Portuguese. Recognizing its strategic importance, the Dutch expanded and extensively remodeled the structure, adding ramparts, bastions, and moats, eventually making it the second-largest Dutch fortification on the island. Under their administration, Jaffna Fort evolved into a major regional center, overseeing trade, taxation, and coastal defense.
British Control (1795–1948)
In 1795, Britain took control of Jaffna Fort from the Dutch amid the wider Napoleonic conflicts. The fort remained under British authority for more than a century and a half, accommodating colonial troops and administrative personnel. Although its military significance gradually declined, it continued to function as a logistical hub, medical facility, and regional administrative headquarters.
Post-Independence Use (1948–1983)
After Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, Jaffna Fort was occupied by detachments of the newly established Ceylon Army. Owing to its secure internal layout, formidable ramparts, and strategic position within the city, it remained the only fully operational colonial-era fort to be regularly utilized by the military.
Symbolic Value to Both Sides
During the civil war, Jaffna Fort assumed immense symbolic significance. For the Sri Lankan state, maintaining control over the fort affirmed governmental authority in the Tamil-majority North. The national flag fluttering above its ramparts became a powerful emblem of sovereignty in a region increasingly contested by separatist forces.
For the LTTE, capturing the fort meant far more than seizing a piece of territory. It symbolized a psychological triumph—the assertion of dominance over the heart of Jaffna city—and a step toward legitimizing their claim of “liberation.” Consequently, when battle finally erupted around the fort, both sides fought with unrelenting determination.
Key Events Leading to the 1990 Siege
Several pivotal events framed the lead-up to the 1990 siege of Jaffna Fort.
Sri Lanka’s civil war escalated dramatically after 23 July 1983, when a landmine attack in Jaffna triggered nationwide anti-Tamil riots known as Black July, pushing the country into full-scale conflict. The Indo–Lanka Accord of 1987 brought the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka on 30 July, leading soon after to Operation Pawan on 10 October 1987—a major and bloody confrontation with the LTTE in Jaffna.
Following a controversial mission marked by heavy casualties and political tension, the IPKF withdrew completely by the end of March 1990, creating a power vacuum in the North. A tenuous ceasefire from March to June 1990 soon collapsed as trust eroded and both sides quietly prepared for renewed hostilities. The situation reached a critical point when police personnel, facing escalating threats, retreated into the fortified Jaffna Fort on 8–9 June 1990. Full-scale fighting erupted the following day, 10 June 1990, marking the beginning of Eelam War II and setting the stage for the impending siege of Jaffna Fort.
Preparation for Battle after the Departure of the IPKF
During the Indian intervention (1987–1990), both the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE underwent significant expansion and transformation. The Sri Lankan military underwent rapid modernization—boosting its manpower, acquiring new weapons systems, and receiving training in counter-insurgency operations. Simultaneously, the LTTE gained invaluable experience confronting a large conventional army, emerging from the conflict more confident, organized, and battle-hardened.
By the time the IPKF withdrew, both sides had renewed their focus on strategic objectives. Centrally located and visible from every direction within Jaffna city, the fort became an inevitable flashpoint.
LTTE Deployment and Preparations
During the ceasefire period, the LTTE meticulously positioned itself for a large-scale assault. Its fighters occupied or fortified key buildings surrounding the fort, including the Telecommunication Department, Jaffna Public Library, Post Office, Duraiappa Stadium, Regal Theatre, and numerous adjoining streets and residences.
When fighting broke out in June 1990, approximately 200 personnel were stationed inside the fort. Of these, 84 belonged to the Sixth Battalion of the Sinha Regiment, while the remainder were policemen—many newly trained and on their first major posting. A considerable number hailed from the Eastern Province. Their lack of combat experience would later magnify the challenges of holding out against a seasoned and well-armed insurgency.
Among them were two policemen—here referred to under pseudonyms, Omar and Abdullah—whose injuries and eventual survival became emblematic of the siege’s human cost. Their firsthand testimonies, shared with me after their remarkable recovery from severe wounds, provide a vivid eyewitness account of the desperate struggle within Jaffna Fort.
LTTE Fires the First Shots
On 10 June 1990, LTTE units opened fire on Jaffna Fort. The following day, a powerful explosive charge detonated near the lagoon-side entrance, splintering the wooden gates but failing to penetrate the defensive perimeter. Intense small-arms fire swept across the ramparts, and intermittent mortar bombardments continued for several days. As LTTE snipers occupied nearby buildings, the garrison found itself under relentless pressure. The military began attempts to break the siege almost immediately.
Operation Eagle 1 – 3 July 1990
In early July, the Sri Lanka Air Force launched a daring aerial resupply mission. A Bell 212 helicopter gunship, flying through heavy enemy fire, landed on the narrow road outside the fort near the lagoon—the only viable landing zone. Supplies, ammunition, and additional weapons were rapidly offloaded, while injured personnel were airlifted to safety.
Close air support from other Bell 212 gunships armed with .50-caliber machine guns and rockets, along with SIAI-Marchetti aircraft conducting bombing runs, suppressed LTTE fire long enough for the helicopter to escape unharmed. Though the operation temporarily boosted morale, the relief was short-lived.
The Worsening Siege
As the weeks dragged on, conditions within the fort deteriorated sharply. Ammunition stocks dwindled, food supplies were nearly exhausted, and water and electricity were cut off. Only a single well within the compound yielded brackish, salty water. Medical supplies were nonexistent. The garrison survived on rice and lentils cooked over makeshift fires; when those ran out, soldiers resorted to catching and eating fish from the moat.
Wounded personnel were sheltered in underground bunkers to protect them from further shelling, but without antibiotics, dressings, or saline, infections spread rapidly. Fourteen soldiers eventually succumbed to injuries that would have been easily treatable under normal circumstances. They were buried within the fort’s walls.
Airdropped supplies frequently missed their mark, falling into LTTE-held areas or the lagoon. Even the few rice sacks that reached the interior often burst open upon impact, scattering grain mixed with dust, shrapnel, and debris. One policeman recalled grimly, “It was stinking to glory,” describing scenes of decomposing bodies, shrapnel-pitted walls, and pervasive stench.
Improvised Weapons: Pasilan 2000 and Baba Mortar
The LTTE demonstrated grim ingenuity in its weapon design. Two of its most notable improvised systems were the Pasilan 2000—a large mortar mounted on a modified tractor, capable of inflicting devastating damage at close range—and the Baba mortar, a crude but powerful heavy-caliber launcher used to hurl explosive shells with irregular yet often deadly effect. In addition, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) were fired repeatedly. Though their accuracy was poor, their psychological impact on the besieged defenders was immense.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Sri Lankan Air Force initiated systematic bombardments of suspected LTTE positions. Helicopter gunships, light attack aircraft, and even transport planes modified to drop improvised 200-kg “barrel bombs” targeted buildings surrounding the fort. Artillery fire from both land-based units and naval vessels further intensified the assault, shaking the city day and night.
On 5 August 1990, the LTTE launched a bold infantry assault on the fort’s main entrance. The attack was spearheaded by an all-female unit commanded by a cadre known as Lt. Sangitha. In the fierce exchange that followed, four female fighters—including their commander—were killed. The assault underscored the LTTE’s willingness to deploy women in frontline combat and suicide-style operations—an exceptional feature among insurgent movements worldwide. Although ultimately repelled, the attack further exhausted the fort’s defenders, forcing them to expend valuable ammunition reserves.
Medical Duty at Palaly Base Hospital
During this period, fighting intensified simultaneously around the Palaly Army Camp. On 23 August 1990, a civilian surgical team—comprising an anaesthetist and an assistant doctor—was flown to Palaly aboard a Y-8 transport aircraft. Their mission was to reinforce the existing medical unit treating the influx of casualties from across the peninsula, including those evacuated from Jaffna Fort. Working with limited facilities and under immense pressure, the medical officers laboured around the clock, bearing witness to the grim human cost of the siege.
Injuries to Policemen Inside the Fort
On 25 August 1990, a mortar blast struck the entrance to the fort, killing one policeman instantly and severely wounding Omar. A large portion of his left buttock was torn away. Bleeding heavily and terrified, he believed death was imminent. As a devout Muslim, he recited verses from the Holy Quran while his comrades wrapped him in cloth and carried him to a bunker for safety.
Helicopter evacuation that evening proved impossible due to intense enemy fire. Omar remained untreated for nearly 48 hours. Another policeman, Abdullah, had already endured two weeks with a shrapnel wound to the chest, blood accumulating dangerously in his pleural cavity—an injury almost certainly fatal without drainage. Both men were in desperate need of evacuation.
Operation Eagle 2 – 26 August 1990
On 26 August 1990, the Sri Lanka Air Force launched another daring rescue attempt. Flying low over the lagoon to evade radar and gunfire, a helicopter gunship briefly hovered near the fort’s entrance—landing was impossible. Under sustained covering fire, troops managed to hoist the wounded men into the aircraft.
As the helicopter ascended, the door gunner clung to the casualties with one hand while firing with the other. Hot, spent shells rained onto their bodies, adding burns to their existing wounds. The aircraft landed on Mandativu Island, where basic first aid was administered before both men were transferred by ambulance to Palaly Hospital. Against all odds, they survived.
Emergency Treatment at Palaly Hospital
At Palaly, Abdullah underwent emergency treatment: a rubber tube was inserted into his chest to drain accumulated blood, followed by intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and a blood transfusion.
Omar required immediate surgical debridement of gangrenous tissue, along with transfusions and high-dose antibiotics to control infection. After five days, both men were stable enough to be flown to Colombo aboard a Y-12 transport aircraft. During the flight, the patients and the attending surgeon lay on the floor of the plane—a vivid testament to wartime improvisation.
Continuation of the Battle
Meanwhile, conditions inside Jaffna Fort deteriorated further. Ammunition was nearly depleted, food supplies were critically low, and morale had collapsed. Outside, LTTE forces tightened their encirclement. As defeat loomed, the Sri Lankan military prepared a massive combined assault to break the siege.
Massive Counter-Operation from Mandativu Island
On 13 September 1990, approximately 4,000 soldiers launched an amphibious operation from Mandativu Island, supported by naval gunboats and Air Force aircraft. Artillery thundered from both land and sea, and civilian areas across Jaffna city trembled under relentless bombardment.
As troops attempted to cross the lagoon, LTTE fighters entrenched along the coastline unleashed devastating fire on the approaching craft, destroying several vessels and killing numerous soldiers. A SIAI-Marchetti bomber was shot down over the water, its wreckage visible for days.
Mounting casualties forced suspension of the offensive. Once again, the trapped garrison remained isolated.
Withdrawal from Jaffna Fort
By late September 1990, the government concluded that further attempts to hold the fort would only lead to needless loss of life. On 26 September, the order to withdraw was issued—coinciding with the LTTE’s commemoration of Thileepan’s death anniversary.
Five years later, in 1995, Sri Lankan forces launched their largest offensive of the war—Operation Riviresa (“Sunshine”). After fifty days of intense fighting, government troops re-entered Jaffna city. On 5 December 1995, the national flag was once again raised above the battered ramparts of Jaffna Fort.
The pendulum had swung back.
Legacy and Aftermath
The siege left deep scars. Buildings within the fort were extensively damaged, and vast areas of Jaffna town lay in ruins. Civilian displacement persisted for years. Psychological trauma haunted both soldiers and civilians long after the guns fell silent.
Today, the fort has been partially restored as a historical monument. Visitors stroll along the same ramparts once pounded by artillery, often unaware that beneath their feet lie the remnants of bunkers, graves, and battle debris.
