Four students from Shivananda College in Kallady were arrested on 11 November after a transformer in the vicinity was damaged by explosives. The Army suspects that Tigers are masquerading in student uniforms. In March the Army ordered schools to provide teachers to screen students. The mass screening has been condemned by MPs and parents as disruptive.
The LTTE attacked the Valaichenai police station on 10 November. As the police retaliated, two Muslim civilians were injured in crossfire. Batticaloa lagoon is under close guard to check infiltration from LTTE-held areas in the west. Two Tigers attempting to cross the lagoon at Kurumanveli were shot dead on 17 November. Another LTTE cadre was killed at Eechamtivu the next day.
The Tigers attacked a police post at Kallady under cover of darkness after blasting electricity supply lines on 17 November killing a policeman. On 2 December the LTTE launched a grenade attack at Kaluthavalai on a public transport bus in which six Special Task Force (STF) members were also travelling, killing two civilians and injuring 34 others. Local MP Joseph Pararajasingham has written to President Chandrika urging her to take measures to prevent civilians being used as human shields.
Farmers are unable to plant 35% of over 100,000 acres of land as a result of security operations and restrictions on fertiliser and fuel. Over 90% of the rice lands lie with LTTE-controlled areas. Farmers complain that they are expected to fill forms for permits in the Sinhala language which they do not understand. They received only 1,800 bushels of seed paddy this year whereas 10,000 bushels are required.
Restriction on food and medicines into LTTE areas in north and west Batticaloa continues. French medical agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) continues visits to civilians in Tiger areas. In September, MSF held 42 clinics in west and north Batticaloa and undertook 6,598 consultations.
In Amparai District, the STF carried out a house-to-house search in Karaitivu on 15 November. Over 150 people were taken to Kannagi Amman temple and interrogated. The STF also conducted major search operations in Central Camp and Bakkiella areas the following day. The LTTE ambushed a police patrol in Central Camp on 14 November killing six policemen and wounding another six.
In Trincomalee District, the Tigers killed three policemen at Thoppur on 14 November. On 22 November, the LTTE released 20 Muslim and Sinhalese people abducted at Irakkandy, north of Trincomalee town, in July.