The LTTE launched a surprise attack, on the government controlled area of Weli Oya, aimed at overrunning four army camps (Kokkilai, Kokkuthuduvai, Jayasinghapura and Janakapura) in the area including the Weli Oya Brigade headquarters.

Troops posted to these camps were mostly reservists from volunteer regiments, national guardsmen with artillery and engineering units.

Within five hours the attack had withered with the LTTE suffering over 300 carders killed, including its leaders.

The attackers failed to penetrate the defense lines or knock out artillery gun placements as it had planned with the use of female suicide bombers.

A few months later he played a major role commanding the elite 53 Division in the Operation Riviresa which the Sri Lanka Army re-captured the whole of the Jaffna peninsula[2] Following his retirement, Major General Janaka Perera entered politics contesting in the 2008 North Central Provincial Council election for the post of Chief Minister.