In the run-up to local elections on 29 January, security was intensified. Jaffna Commander Lionel Balagalle believes 200 Tigers may be in the peninsula to disrupt the elections. The Army shot and injured R Kanagaratnam found outside during curfew in Nallur on 7 January. Two other curfew breakers were shot dead on 20 January in Vadamaratchy.
In three clashes in early January, seven LTTE were shot dead in Chavakachcheri. The Tigers launched an assault on Punkudutivu Island, west of Jaffna, on 23 January killing nine members of the Tamil group EPDP and wounding six others. The Army fired on a boat arriving from Pooneryn on 24 January killing two civilians and injuring seven. The Navy and the Sea Tigers clashed off Gurunagar near Jaffna town on 27 January. Following the incident the Army shelled Gurunagar area for several hours injuring five civilians.
The EPDP won ten of the 17 councils in the Jaffna local elections. PLOTE took control of four councils and moderate TULF won two while TELO gained one council. The TULF won the vital Jaffna municipal council and Sarojini Yogeswaran, wife of former MP V Yogeswaran assassinated by the LTTE in July 1989, was elected Mayor. The TULF was able to contest after the Court of Appeal directed the election officers on 16 January to accept the party’s nomination papers which were rejected earlier.
Only 18.4% of the 571,486 registered voters cast their votes, but some 40% of the actual number of voters currently present in Jaffna may have voted. Observers believe that over 106,400 Jaffna people decided to vote despite LTTE opposition to the election, is significant.