OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT

The situation in the North and East of Sri Lanka remains tense after GOSL forces captured Vakarai on 19 January. There has been fighting and shelling on an extensive scale, and two sea battles are reported. The situation for the IDPs in the East is still difficult, and civilian suffering is widespread due to the degradation of the security environment.

 

GOSL forces and LTTE cadres have engaged each other in several battles in the aftermath of the battle for Vakarai. Fire fights are reported from both Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts, leading to several casualties. LTTE cadres have attacked SLA positions in Vavunatheevu and on the road between Kallar and Kantale. GOSL forces have shelled and conducted air strikes against targets in the jungle between Nilaveli, Kuchchaveli and Morawewa in Trincomalee district. GOSL forces have shelled the LTTE pocket in Kokadichcholai West of Batticaloa continuously for one week and there are unconfirmed reports of air strikes. There are many civilians in that area, and there is a risk of a renewed wave of IDPs in Batticaloa district if larger scale fighting spreads to that area.

 

Shelling is continuing in Jaffna peninsula, and seems to be coming closer to Jaffna town as there was shelling from Poonaryn towards Ariyalai East Jaffna.

 

The Sea Tigers are showing renewed activity. A civilian supply ship, the M/V City of Liverpool, was attacked and damaged on 21 January off KKS in Jaffna Peninsula. The Sri Lanka Navy foiled an alleged attack against Colombo harbour on 26 January. It has not been possible for the SLMM to verify whether this is correct.

 

The IDPs in Batticaloa district face many difficulties and mainly a lack of security. TMVP cadres have on several occasions screened the IDPs for LTTE sympathizers. There are many reports of abductions in Batticaloa, among the IDPs as well as in the civilian population. LTTE and TMVP are both suspected.

 

The security situation for the civilians in the North and East is still very grave, and several murders have been reported of which are the director of Ceylon Transport Board in Vavuniya and a Tamil Urban Council member from Kinniya in Trincomalee district. Civilians have on several occasions been caught in the crossfire between GOSL troops and LTTE. One civilian was killed and two were wounded in an exchange of fire following an LTTE attack on a GOSL check point East of Mannar. Fourteen civilians, of which several are children, were wounded in Jaffna in separate claymore attacks against GOSL security forces. Posters have appeared in the aftermath of this pleading the perpetrators not to perform attacks close to civilians. There are indicators of communal tensions in Vavuniya. On 23 January a van carrying five Singhalese road workers was fired upon South-West of Vavuniya town. One man died and the remaining four were injured. The sense of insecurity among civilians in Vavuniya is high, and there are few people on the streets even at day time.

 

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

SLMM is currently fully staffed. In the past week teams were sent to Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. SLMM sent a RRT (Rapid Response Team) to Batticaloa after GOSL’s capture of Vakarai. Support functions are fully operational at HQ in Colombo, as well as the Liaison Office in Kilinochchi.