As fighting in the Vanni intensifies, the civilian population, including 380,000 Jaffna refugees, remain at risk. Three civilians were killed by Army shells in Ramanathapuram and Mankulam on 9 September. Six more civilians died in LTTE-Army clashes north-east of Puliyankulam five days later. Mullaitivu Government Agent Tharmakulasingham says civilians are displaced due to heavy shelling.
The Army, continuing Operation Jayasikurui (Certain Victory) for the fourth month, to open a land route to Jaffna, attempted to encircle Puliyankulam which the LTTE holds. Heavy fighting took place at Puthur Nagathambiran, two miles north-west of Puliyankulam and at Kanagarayankulam, seven miles south-east of Mankulam.
Press reports say the Army suffered many casualties in a rain of LTTE artillery shells believed to be from the arms ship which disappeared near Madagascar in July. Observers believe that the beginning of monsoon will hamper Army’s progress and the battle for the Vanni is far from over. The LTTE attacked the Kalyanapura Army camp in Veli Oya region in Mullaitivu District on 8 September killing seven civilians.
Further south in Vavuniya, many among the 12,000 Tamils detained in 14 camps who want to go to Colombo or other southern areas are malnourished and have contracted disease. The application to go south must now be supported by a permanent resident permit holder in Vavuniya. Police insist that the person supporting the application must be another Tamil. People are allowed only four hours outside the camps during the day and are unable to work.