Subsequently, Elephant Pass camp was expanded and transformed into a massive military complex, with a main base and four mini-camps, within a stretch of land three miles in diameter.

Gamini Kularatne of the 6th Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment managed to climb on top of an advancing bulldozer and lobbed a grenade into it with total disregard of his own life.

Kularatne was posthumously the first recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the highest gallantry medal in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

Attempts by the Sri Lankan Air Force to land helicopters inside the base proved futile, due to the heavy AA gunfire of the Tigers.

Eventually the Rest House camp in the southern sector of the base fell into the hands of the LTTE.

Sustaining heavy losses, Sri Lankan troops fell back to the rear positions.

The first attempt at a seaborne landing at Vettilakerni, located 12 kilometers east of Elephant Pass, scheduled for 14:30 hours on July 15, 1991, met with stiff resistance, causing Brig.

The terrain consisted of sand dunes, dotted with thorny scrub and Palmyra palms, an area that did not provide any natural cover against aerial, naval and artillery bombardment.

It took nearly 18 days for Sri Lankan troops to fight their way on the 12-kilometer stretch to reach the Elephant Pass base, due to heavy resistance and minefields.

On the third week of fighting a squadron of Alvis Saladin armored cars of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, SLAC commanded by Maj. Shiran Jinasena broke through enemy lines despite two of its vehicles being destroyed by mines.

The armored thrust on 2 August was led by Maj. Jinasena and was followed by Maj. Rohan De Silva of 4/GR, who commanded a squadron of Buffel APCs.

On the 4th of August forward elements of the Task Force reached the beleaguered garrison, singing the battle song Hela Jathika Abhimane.

To advance the 12-kilometer distance, the Sinhala regiments, backed by heavy armor and air cover, had to engage in fierce clashes with the LTTE and fight for every inch of land.

The fighting continued in that area until August 9, when the battered LTTE forces made a tactical withdrawal.

The LTTE suffered heavy casualties—573 Tamil Tigers including 123 women fighters were killed (according to Adele Ann Balasingham) in the battle.

According to official government figures, 202 army personnel were killed in the battle to retain Elephant Pass base.

Maj. Gen. Sarath Munasinghe, at that time the Sri Lankan army spokesman—and who wrote "A Soldier's Version" after his retirement—writes, "On 4 August 1991, I was lucky to personally witness the link-up with the EPS camp.