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Page moved: Changed link from Sri Lankan Civil War to Sri Lankan civil war (×2) using Move+

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=57 Division
|image=
|caption=
|dates=2008–present
|country=[[Sri Lanka]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Sri Lanka Army]]
|type= [[Division (military)]]
|role= [[Close-quarters combat]] [[Combined arms]] [[Counterinsurgency]] [[Forward observer]] [[Jungle warfare]] [[Maneuver warfare]] [[Raid (military)|Raiding]] [[Reconnaissance]] [[Urban warfare]]
|size=
|command_structure= [[Security Forces Headquarters - Mullaitivu]]
|notable_commanders= Major General [[Jagath Dias]]
|garrison=[[Kilinochchi]]
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]], [[Battle of Kilinochchi 2008–09]]
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''57 Division''' is a [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army]]. A principal offensive division it was deployed for combat operations in the [[Wanni]] region in 2009.<ref name="Div4">{{Cite web |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node%2F12554 |title=Sri Lanka Army captured Vellankulam – last bastion of Tigers in Mannar district |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=23 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092800/http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node%2F12554 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Formation==
With the start of [[Eelam War IV]], a phase of the [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]], the [[Military of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan military]] launched an [[Eastern Theatre of Eelam War IV|offensive]] to capture the [[Eastern Province (Sri Lanka)|Eastern Province]] from the LTTE. The Sri Lankan military had captured the Eastern Province from the LTTE by July 2007.<ref name="fall of east">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL15933520070711|title=Sri Lanka declares fall of rebel east, Tigers defiant|last=Gardner|first=Simon |date=11 July 2007|work=Reuters|access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref> Soon after this, the military's focus was shifted to the North, and a new [[Northern Theatre of Eelam War IV|offensive]] began to capture the [[Northern Province (Sri Lanka)|Northern Province]] from the LTTE.<ref name="focus on north">{{cite news |url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20070923/defence.htm |title=Defensive Tigers warn of lethal days |last=Perera |first=Amantha |date=23 September 2007 |work=The Sunday Leader |access-date=18 February 2009 }}</ref>

A new division named as the 57 Division had been created by the [[Sri Lanka Army]] on 26 February 2007. This was created as an offensive division, with the task of neutralising LTTE threats on civilian settlements in [[Vavuniya]] and [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]].<ref name="path clear">{{cite news|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071221_02|title=Path Clear for Wanni Liberation|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|work=Daily News|publisher=Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222045725/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20071221_02|archive-date=22 December 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Three brigades comprised the 57 Division, named as 571, 572 and 573. The 571 Brigade was commanded by [[Colonel]] [[G.V. Ravipriya]], while the 572 Brigade was commanded by Colonel [[Senerath Bandara]]. The 573 Brigade was commanded by [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Prathap Thillekeratne]].<ref name="commanders">{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/10/12/sec03.asp|title=VIPs advised to strictly adhere to security measures|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|date=12 October 2008|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210090937/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/10/12/sec03.asp|archive-date=10 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Participating in the northern offensive, the 57 Division under the command of [[Major General]] Jagath Dias, Col GV Ravipriya commenced operations in March 2007.<ref name="defence">{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03|title=The Final Countdown|work=Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220044505/http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03|archive-date=20 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was deployed to advance on [[Kilinochchi]] along the western flank of the [[Wanni]] region.<ref name="eastern flank">{{cite news|url=http://www.island.lk/2009/01/11/defence1.html|title=Forces poised for the kill on the Eastern flank: How Elephant Pass was won|last=Ferdinando|first=Shamindra |date=11 January 2009|work=The Island|access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref>

A new brigade named as the 574 Brigade was added to the 57 Division in October 2008, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel [[Senaka Wijesuriya]].<ref name="574 brigade">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/10/fea03.asp|title=Battered Tigers irked by Southern unity against terrorism|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|date=10 October 2008|work=Daily News|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013203125/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/10/fea03.asp|archive-date=13 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The command of the 572 Brigade was taken over by Lieutenant Colonel [[Dhammika Jayasundera]] during this time.<ref name="commanders" />

==Sri Lankan Civil War==

The 57 Division was involved in the Vanni offensive from the beginning –
March 2007 – right up to May 2009.

===Operations===
In late March 2008, the 57 Division was given the objective of capturing the [[Madhu church]] and surrounding areas by the [[Sinhala and Tamil new year]] in April.<ref name="ordered to take madhu">{{cite news|url=http://www.nation.lk/2008/04/13/newsfe3.htm|title=Displaced Our Lady of Madhu statue in danger of disappearance|last=Jeyaraj|first=D.B.S.|date=13 April 2008|work=The Nation|access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref> The 57 Division captured this area on 24 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thebottomline.lk/2008/12/31/defence_col.htm|title=2008 blasts LTTE's myth of 'invincibility'|last=Ruwan|first=Weerakoon|date=31 December 2008|work=The Bottom Line|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722150531/http://www.thebottomline.lk/2008/12/31/defence_col.htm|archive-date=22 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/11/sec03.asp|title=Fall of Adampan humiliates LTTE|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|date=11 May 2008|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617225759/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/11/sec03.asp|archive-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> After securing Madhu, Palampiddi became the next objective,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nation.lk/2008/05/11/militarym.htm|title=Tigers on the back foot as Army presses on|last=Senpathi|date=11 May 2008|work=The Nation|access-date=19 February 2009}}</ref> which was captured on 17 May.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southasianoutlook.com/issues/2008/september/sri_lanka_ltte_heartland_imperilled.html|title=LTTE: Heartland Imperilled |last=Singh|first=Ajit Kumar |date=September 2008|work=South Asian Outlook|access-date=19 February 2009}}</ref> After capturing the village of Mundumurippu in May and Periyamadhu in June,<ref name="assessment">{{Cite web|url=http://www.observerindia.com/cms/sites/orfonline/html/assessment/chrosri.html|title=Sri Lanka 2008 at a Glance: Chronology of Important Events of 2008|publisher=Observer Research Foundation|access-date=19 February 2009}}</ref> the 57 Division continued its advance into LTTE held territory and linked up with the [[58 Division (Sri Lanka)|58 Division]] on 30 June 2008.<ref name="linkup">{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/13/sec02.asp|title=Gallant forces gallop on the last lap to liberation|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|date=13 July 2008|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=19 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820044807/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/13/sec02.asp|archive-date=20 August 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

A new army division was created during the same time to hold the ground captured by the 57 Division.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/25/sec01.asp|title=Troops poised to capture Periyamadu|last=Wijayapala|first=Ranil|date=25 May 2008|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=19 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217032933/http://sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/25/sec01.asp|archive-date=17 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> This new division, which was named the [[61 Division (Sri Lanka)|61 Division]], was given the task of holding the areas captured by the 57 Division up to Palampiddi, enabling the 57 Division to focus on the offensive.<ref name="linkup" />

===Towns captured by 57 Division===
{| width=30% class="wikitable" border="1"
! #
! Area Liberated<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220044505/http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090117_03 |archive-date=20 February 2009 }}</ref>
! Date
|-
|1
|[[Madhu church]] complex
|24 April 2008
|-
|2
|[[Palampiddi]] Town
|16 May 2008
|-
|3
|[[Mundumurippu]] Village
|23 May 2008
|-
|4
|[[Periyamadhu]] Village
|15 June 2008
|-
|5
|[[Naddankandal]] Village
|11 July 2008
|-
|6
|[[Kalvilan]] Village
|13 August 2008
|-
|7
|[[Thunukkai]] and [[Uilankulam]] Towns
|22 August 2008
|-
|8
|[[Mallavi]] Town
|2 September 2008
|-
|9
|[[Akkarayankulam tank bund]]
|29 October 2008
|-
|10
|[[Akkarayankulam]] built-up
|5 November 2008
|-
|11
|[[Kokavil]] Town
|1 December 2008
|-
|12
|[[Terumurikandy]] junction
|10 December 2008
|-
|13
|[[Kilinochchi]] Town
|2 January 2009
|-
|14
|[[Ramanathapuram]]
|7 January 2009
|-
|15
|[[Visuamadu]] Town
|28 January 2009
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:57 Division}}
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2007]]

57 Division (Sri Lanka) - Revision history

imported>Arnav Bhate: Page moved: Changed link from Sri Lankan Civil War to Sri Lankan civil war (×2) using Move+