In 1994 parliamentary elections, ಯುಎನ್‌ಪಿ was defeated ಮತ್ತು, amidst great hope, People's Alliance, headed by Chandrika Kumaratunga, came to power on peace platform. Chandrika Kumaratunga won presidential elections as well after ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ assassinated opposition ನಾಯಕ Gamini Dissanayake. A ಕದನ ವಿರಾಮ was agreed in January 1995, but ensuing ಸಂಧಾನಗಳು proved fruitless. The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ broke ಕದನ ವಿರಾಮ on April 19 ಮತ್ತು thus began next phase of war, dubbed "ಈಳಮ್‌ War III" .

The new ಸರ್ಕಾರ then pursued policy of "war for peace". Determined to retake key rebel stronghold of Jaffna, which was occupied by 2,000 rebels, it poured troops into peninsula. In one particular incident in August 1995, ವಾಯು ದಳ jets bombed St. Peter's church at Navali (Naavaella), killing at least 65 refugees ಮತ್ತು wounding 150 others. ಸರ್ಕಾರ troops initially cut off peninsula from rest of ದ್ವೀಪ, ಮತ್ತು then after 7 weeks of heavy fighting succeeded in bringing Jaffna under ಸರ್ಕಾರ control for ಮೊದಲ time in nearly decade. In high profile ceremony, ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾದ Defense Minister Anurudda Ratwatte raised national flag inside Jaffna fort on December 5, 1995. The ಸರ್ಕಾರ estimated that approximately 2500 soldiers ಮತ್ತು rebels were killed in ಆಕ್ರಮಣ, ಮತ್ತು estimated 7,000 wounded. Many ನಾಗರಿಕರ were killed as part of this ಸಂಘರ್ಷ such as Navaly church bombing in which over 125 ನಾಗರಿಕರ died. The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ ಮತ್ತು more than 350,000 ನಾಗರಿಕರ, compelled by ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ pressure to leave Jaffna, fled to Vanni region in interior. Most of refugees returned later next year.

The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ responded by launching Operation Unceasing Waves ಮತ್ತು decisively won Battle of Mullaitivu in ಜುಲೈ 1996.

The ಸರ್ಕಾರ launched another ಆಕ್ರಮಣ in August 1996. Another 200,000 ನಾಗರಿಕರ fled violence. The town of Kilinochchi (GiraaNikke) was taken on September 29. On May 13, 1997, 20,000 ಸರ್ಕಾರ troops tried to open supply line through LTTE-controlled Vanni, but failed. Civilians were regularly killed ಮತ್ತು wounded ಯಿಂದ both sides.

As violence continued in ಉತ್ತರ, ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ suicide ಮತ್ತು time bombs were exploded numerous times in populated city areas ಮತ್ತು public transport in south of ದೇಶ, killing hundreds of ನಾಗರಿಕರ. In January 1996, ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ carried out one of their deadliest suicide bomb attacks at ಕೇಂದ್ರ Bank in ಕೊಲಂಬೊ, killing 90 ಮತ್ತು injuring 1,400. In October 1997 they bombed ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾದ World Trade Centre ಮತ್ತು, in January 1998, detonated truck bomb in Kandy (Mahanuvara), damaging Temple of Tooth, one of holiest Buddhist shrines in world. In response to this bombing, ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾದ ಸರ್ಕಾರ outlawed ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ ಮತ್ತು with some success pressed other ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳು around world to do same, significantly interfering with their fund-raising activities.

On September 27, 1998 ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ launched Operation Unceasing Waves II ಮತ್ತು after heavy fighting captured Kilinochchi, thus winning Battle of Kilinochchi.

In March 1999, in Operation Rana Gosa, ಸರ್ಕಾರ tried invading Vanni from south. The army made some gains, taking control of Oddusuddan (Oththan-thuduva) ಮತ್ತು Madhu, but could not dislodge ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ from region. In September 1999 ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ ನರಮೇಧd 50 ಸಿಂಹಳೀಯರು ನಾಗರಿಕರ at Gonagala

The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ returned to ಆಕ್ರಮಣ with Operation Unceasing Waves III on November 2, 1999. Nearly all Vanni rapidly fell back into ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ hands. The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ launched 17 successful attacks in region which culminated in overrunning of Paranthan (Puranthaenna) Chemicals Factory base ಮತ್ತು Kurrakkan Kaddukulam (kurakkan-kaela vaeva) base. Thousands were killed in fighting. The rebels also advanced ಉತ್ತರ towards Elephant Pass (Alimankada) ಮತ್ತು Jaffna (Yapanaya). The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ was successful in cutting all land ಮತ್ತು sea supply lines of ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾದ armed forces to south, west ಮತ್ತು ಉತ್ತರ of town of Kilinochchi. In December 1999 ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ attempted to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunga in ಆತ್ಮಹತ್ಯಾ ಧಾಳಿ at pre-election rally. She lost one eye, among other injuries, but was able to defeat opposition ನಾಯಕ Ranil Wickremesinghe in Presidential ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಮತ್ತು was reelected for her second term in office.

On April 22, 2000, Elephant Pass ಸೇನೆ complex, which had separated Jaffna peninsula from Vanni mainland for 17 years, completely fell to hands of ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ. The army then launched Operation Agni Khiela to take back southern Jaffna Peninsula, but sustained losses. The ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ continued to press towards Jaffna, ಮತ್ತು many feared it would fall to ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ, but ಸೇನೆ repulsed ಎಲ್‍ಟಿಟಿಇ ಆಕ್ರಮಣs ಮತ್ತು was able to maintain control of city.

Fighting in 'no-fire zone'
Resumption of ಯುದ್ಧವಿರಾಮ
Fall of Sampur
ಈಳಮ್‌ War III