01 / Overview
Sri Lankan civil war
Date
1983–2009
Type
civil war
Battles & Operations
Duration
25 years 10 months 6 days
Participants
Weapon System
Outcome
decisive victory a
Conflict Intensity High
Duration
9,431
days
Human Loss
100,001
total
Intensity
11
deaths / day
Intensity Rank
#88
/ 362 conflicts
Casualty Rank
#19
top 5%
ⓘ Intensity is based on the average daily death toll.
02 / Sides
Belligerents 5 participants
Sri Lanka India (1987–1990)
VS
03 / Battles & Operations · 47 records
Battle Eelam War I 1983–1987 Battle Kokkilai offensive 1985 Battle Vadamarachchi Operation 1987 Battle Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war 1987–1990 Battle 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt 1988 Battle Eelam War II 1990–1995 Battle Operation Eagle 1990 Battle Operation Sea Breeze 1990 Battle Operation Thrividha Balaya 1990 Battle Battle of Kokavil 1990 Battle Operation Balavegaya 1991 Battle Battle of Pooneryn 1993 Battle Eelam War III 1995–2002 Battle Operation Riviresa 1995 Battle Battle of Jaffna 1995 Battle Navaly church bombing 1995 Battle Battle of Mullaitivu 1996 Battle Operation Jayasikurui 1997 Battle 1997 Vavunathivu Offensive 1997 Battle Thandikulam–Omanthai offensive 1997 Battle Battle of Kanakarayankulam 1997 Battle 1998 Battle of Kilinochchi 1998 Battle Operation Rana Gosa 1999 Battle Oddusuddan offensive 1999 Battle Battle for the A-9 highway 2000 Battle Second Battle of Elephant Pass 2000 Battle Eelam War IV 2006–2009 Battle Eastern Theater of Eelam War IV 2006–2007 Battle SLA December 2006 offensive 2006 Battle Battle of Point Pedro 2006 Battle Battle of Jaffna 2006 Battle Battle of Sampur 2006 Battle Attack on Galle Harbour 2006 Battle Operation Definite Victory 2007 Battle Battle of Delft 2007 Battle Battle of Thoppigala 2007 Battle Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base 2007 Battle 2008–2009 Sri Lankan Army Northern offensive 2008–2009 Battle 2008–2009 Battle of Kilinochchi 2008–2009 Battle Battle of Kallarawa 2008 Battle Battle of Paranthan 2008–2009 Battle Battle of Vidattaltivu 2008 Battle Battle of Mullaitivu 2009 Battle Battle of Aanandapuram 2009 Battle Battle of Chalai 2009 Battle Battle of Puthukkudiyirippu 2009 Battle Third Battle of Elephant Pass 2009
04 / Weapons & Equipment · 34 systems
WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT SUMMARY
Czech Republic ORIGIN · COMPANY
Total 36 distinct systems
Avg. Equipment Age 18 years all equipment
Sri Lanka India (1987–1990) 17 years avg. age
MOST EXPENSIVE $500 K · 2011 T-72
Weapons & Equipment34systems
Country
CATEGORY
Claymore mineAnti-Personnel Mines73
RM-70Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)54
Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62
UziMachine Pistols62
AK-63Assault Rifles66
FN FNCAssault Rifles73
FV603 SaracenArmoured Personnel Carriers (APC)44
FN MAGGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)89Browning Hi-PowerPistols75
QBZ-95Assault Rifles72Ishapore 1A1Battle Rifles71M-46 field gunField Guns65UziMachine Pistols62Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62Sterling MK VIIMachine Pistols62Ordnance QF 25 pounderTowed Artillery & Mortars50
Type 54 semi-automatic pistolPistols61
T-72Tanks49
Heckler & Koch MP5Machine Pistols73
FV601 SaladinRecon Vehicles54
Degtyaryova PekhotnyLight Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)71QBZ-95Assault Rifles72M-46 field gunField Guns65Type 81 assault rifleAssault Rifles63BTR-80Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63Type 56Assault Rifles59Ordnance QF 25 pounderTowed Artillery & Mortars50QBZ-95Assault Rifles72L1A1 Self-Loading RifleBattle Rifles70Type 66 howitzerTowed Artillery & Mortars67M-46 field gunField Guns65SAR 80Assault Rifles64Type 81 assault rifleAssault Rifles63BTR-80Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63UziMachine Pistols62Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62Sterling MK VIIMachine Pistols62Type 56Assault Rifles59FV601 SaladinRecon Vehicles54+5more →
AK-74Assault Rifles79
DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67Type 69 RPGRocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)54
FIM-92 StingerMANPADS809K38 IglaMANPADS72vz. 52 rifleSemi-Automatic Rifles52
Ultimax 100Light Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)79
SAR 80Assault Rifles64
Type 80General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)81
FerretRecon Vehicles46Each system appears only once in the list.
1FN MAGGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)89MASS2Type 80General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)81MASS3FIM-92 StingerMANPADS80MASS4AK-74Assault Rifles79MASS5Ultimax 100Light Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)79MASS6Browning Hi-PowerPistols75MASS7Claymore mineAnti-Personnel Mines73MASS8FN FNCAssault Rifles73MASS9Heckler & Koch MP5Machine Pistols73MASS10QBZ-95Assault Rifles72MASS
05 / Outcomes
Outcome & Human Cost
Decisive Victory — Side A
FIRST DEFENSE DEALS AFTER WAR 20 deals
France 
Israel 
Vietnam 
Romania 
South Korea 📚 Sources
- Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
- Correlates of War (CoW) project
- Official archives and academic literature