Although security was tightened in the aftermath, security forces agreed to grant permits to people attending the festival of the Nagapoosani Amman Hindu temple on Nainativu Island scheduled for early July. Permits must be obtained at the Navy checkpoint at Kurikadduvan on Punkudutivu Island. Devotees from Jaffna peninsula will be issued permits at the Allaipitty checkpoint. People can use only boats that have been issued permits by the Navy.
Jaffna government secretariat says around 8,800 internal refugees have been resettled in western Valikamam region, but 92,000 are unable to resettle because of high security zones (HSZ). After the February 2002 ceasefire, until the end of May, 271,267 people returned home to Jaffna. In southern Thenmaratchy, 81,771 have returned. But 1,500 families are unable to resettle because of HSZs in six Grama Sevaka (Village Headman) divisions - Eluthumadduval South and North, Karampagam, Thanankilappu, Kaithady and Navatkuli.
In Mannar District, security forces have agreed to allow resettlement of refugees beyond 100 metres from the naval base on Talaimannar Island, Government Agent V Visvalingam says. Landmines are a threat in 21 villages in the district and 20 other villages have been declared HSZs. As a result, some 2,500 families are unable to resettle.
Further south in Anuradhapura and Puttalam, dry rations to refugees have been delayed. In Puttalam, refugees in camps have not received dry rations since April although the Rehabilitation Ministry allocated Rs 61.2 million for the first six months of 2004. Anuradhapura refugees were allocated Rs 13 million but received dry rations only in January.