Finally they were confined to a small littoral strip of territory located between the A-35 highway (Paranthan-Mullaitheevu road) Nanthikadal and Chalai lagoons on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.

The idea was to conduct a carefully planned operation that would deliver a crippling blow to the security forces although the Tigers were outnumbered 50 to 1.

On 30 March LTTE launched a massive attack on SLA front line in the Puthukuduyirippu area, advancing out of the no-fire zone.

SL Army's 53rd and 58th divisions and Task Force 8 advanced out of Puthukkudiyiruppu in a pincer movement intended to outflank the Charles Anthony regiment which held the eastward-running Puthukkudiyiruppu-Iranappaalai-Puthumaathalan road.

Special Forces and Commandos set an ambush in the coconut trees east of the pocket, cutting routes of reinforcement to the LTTE trapped in Aanandapuram.

A reinforced company of Tigers under Col Lawrence was sent in a convoy that attempted to reach the 2  km square pocket, but were ambushed and destroyed by special forces.

As they were a small team and their fighters made inexperienced long-distance voyages, they were eventually killed in the battle where there was no cover for fighting against the Sri Lankan Army who was on the shore and getting reinforced continuously.