In January, the Sri Lankan armed forces bombed and shelled the coastal areas of the peninsula, such as Aruguveli, Kerativu, Thanakilappu and LTTE positions around the Elephant Pass camp. Some 7,000 people, displaced mainly from Thenmaratchy and Vadamaratchy south, have fled to Jaffna town or western Valikamam areas.
Around 4,000 fisher families near Jaffna town are also affected as fishermen are not able to go to sea. Business establishments in Thenmaratchy are unable to function. Jaffna Government Agent K Shanmuganathan says that as the fighting continues, there is increasing reluctance on the part of foreign agencies to begin new development projects.
Four civilians were seriously wounded in Ariyalai and Chavakachcheri on 11 January, by shells fired from Pooneryn area, where the LTTE is said to have artillery positions. P Parameswary, 17, was injured by a shell at Pashayur six days later. The Army carried out several search operations in Jaffna to identify Tiger infiltrators. Jasintha Tharmarasa has complained to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission that soldiers entered her house in Jaffna town on 14 January and attacked her husband. He was taken to Navanthurai Army camp, assaulted and detained for several hours. P Sivakaran who went to the Varani Army camp on 21 January is missing.
Suspected Tiger gunmen shot dead Point Pedro Urban Council Chairman Vadivelu Vijayaratnam on 14 January. Council employee M Baheerathan was also killed. The LTTE had earlier warned officials in the local administration that they would be attacked if they continued in their positions.
Students Priya, 16, Vinoth, 12, and their mother S Valarmathy were arrested on 25 January and taken to Colombo. Students in Jaffna schools stopped attending school on 31 January, demanding their release. The protest ended when they were released. Ms Valarmathy says that in Colombo she was asked to identify her elder son Yasotharan, an LTTE suspect, arrested on 22 January. The three were also asked to provide blood samples for DNA tests.