The base straddles the causeway that links the Jaffna peninsula with the rest of Sri Lanka. A statement from Sri Lanka's ministry of defense denies the rebel claim, saying army troops took most of their equipment with them when they withdrew to Jaffna and any equipment left behind was rendered unusable. Confirmation of both sides' claims is impossible because no independent observers are allowed into combat areas. Rebels now say they are preparing for an assault on Jaffna, their former capital, which they lost to government troops in December 1995. Sri Lanka's army says the city is well-defended and reinforcements have been moved to Jaffna airport, which is the only remaining transportation link with the rest of the country.
Sea routes to the city are vulnerable to rebel artillery fire.
The Tamil Tigers launched their offensive to capture Elephant Pass and Jaffna last November. Sri Lanka's military is believed to have withdrawn more than 10-thousand troops from the Elephant Pass military base to Jaffna. A Tamil Tiger assault on the city could begin at any time and could result in thousands of casualties on both sides. International efforts to ease the crisis have intensified. The Norwegian foreign ministry confirmed Monday it had a received a request from the Tamil Tigers to send a negotiating team to Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo.