Battle of Mullaitivu ( 2009 ) The Battle of Mullaitivu was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE ) for the control of the town of Mullaitivu in the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war . The town of Mullaitivu was the last stronghold of the LTTE . The government declared on 25 January 2009 that its troops had entered the town and were consolidating their positions . The Sri Lanka Air Force had been attacking LTTE positions in and around Mullaitivu for several days before the government troops claimed to have entered it . After the Battle of Kilinochchi , during which the Sri Lankan military captured the LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi , the Ministry of Defence had stated that the military ' s next target was Mullaitivu and the " battle has already begun " . Leaflets had been dropped by the Sri Lanka Air Force earlier over the town , urging civilians to come to government controlled " safe zones " . The government also suspended all civil administration work on 23 January to allow public servants to leave the area . The army had allowed a " safe area " inside the war zone for civilians to exit . Independent aid agencies report about 230 , 000 civilians were inside the war zone around the northern city . Background . The LTTE captured the Mullaitivu military base and town in 1996 , following a battle which resulted in at least 1639 soldiers being killed or missing . The LTTE used the town as their main military base since then . A large base of the Sea Tigers was also located in Mullaitivu . Mullaitivu had been a main target of the Sri Lankan military offensive in the Northern Theatre of Eelam War IV . Battle . Before the battle , public offices in Mullaittivu were closed for the weekend and government employees had moved out of the city ahead of the impending military action on 25 January . Civilians from Mullaittivu were also seen moving towards the north into the jungle areas where the LTTE guerrillas had retreated . On 24 January 2009 , the LTTE had blown up a dam near the town which flooded the surrounding areas . LTTE fighters also built earth barriers , which made it difficult for the army to approach with heavy tanks . Infantrymen of the Sri Lankan army ' s 7th Gemunu Watch first entered the town after facing fierce resistance from the LTTE . The ground forces were backed by helicopter gunships of the Sri Lankan Air Force . Sri Lankan troops also moved in with a small group of boats from the western side of Mullaittivu . Later , the 59th Division was involved in the consolidating the captured town . Some LTTE fighters are now reported to be hiding in a small area between Vishwamadhu and Puthukkudiyiruppu . Aftermath . With the fall of Mullaitivu , the LTTE has lost approximately 95 percent of the land they once controlled . Sarath Fonseka , the commander of the Sri Lanka Army , has requested the public to celebrate the victory with dignity by hoisting the national flag . Before the town was captured , the Sri Lankan army seized two nearby facilities used for making bombs and landmines that reportedly contain 4 , 000 detonators and 150 kg of explosives . The Sri Lankan army continues to target LTTE positions after the capture of Mullaitivu , and is currently attacking remaining LTTE positions inside jungles . LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is said to be hiding in the last jungle areas held . However , the Sri Lankan government is still not certain of the exact location . India and Malaysia have stepped up efforts to prevent Prabhakaran from entering their territories . Prabhakaran is wanted in India for the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi .