The LTTE still controls Urikkadu, Katkovalam and Nagarcoil areas in east Vadamaratchy, from where, the Army believes Tiger infiltration into military-held territory continues. The Army’s attempt to capture these areas in early April failed, reports say. Nagarcoil was shelled on 5 April wounding Tharshini and three year-old Thashika.
Two soldiers were killed and five others injured in a LTTE landmine attack at Maruthankerni on 4 April. The following day a soldier was killed at Vettukkadu in Palai area. The Army shelled Palai after a culvert on Jaffna-Kandy road was blasted by the Tigers on the same day. A LTTE grenade attack in Jaffna town on 12 April killed civilian B Kamalasini and wounded 19 other people.
The Army carried out search operations in Jaffna in April and some parents in Thenmaratchy have complained to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission that their children have been detained. Chavakachcheri and Madduvil were searched on 27 April and several people taken into custody. Following a visit to Jaffna on 2 April, senior State Counsel Sugatha Gamalath announced plans to construct a prison in Thellippalai.
The five-member committee, headed by retired government officer Bandula Kulatunge and comprising senior military and police officers, appointed to investigate disappearances in Jaffna, submitted its reports to President Chandrika on 22 April. The report says 16 people were killed in custody and in 25 cases the offenders have been identified.
Colombo newspaper Virakesari says the government introduced a new rule in early April on visitors to Jaffna. Aid agencies and foreign delegations who wish to assess development projects in the peninsula must, hereafter, be accompanied by government officers.
The government says the time allowed for fishing in Jaffna lagoon will be increased by two hours from the current eight hours between 4am and 12noon. Health problems remain in Jaffna, particularly in recently resettled 15 Grama Sevaka (Village Headman) divisions in Valikamam north. Two people died of disease in the area in April.
Many people who returned from the Vanni complain that they live in refugee camps while their homes are occupied by soldiers. Local agencies say reconstruction plans for Jaffna are being kept secret and attempts to obtain details of UN programmes for 1998 have proved futile.