OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

The week began in some sort of more positive surroundings than the weeks before; with the re-opening of the Omanthai and Uyilankulam entry/exit points, and less offensives on the ground – both in the north and the east. But, as predicted in SLMM’s last weekly report, things turned more hostile again. The two points were closed again, following clashes between the two sides on Monday evening, and an attack on the ICRC hut at Omanthai on Tuesday.

 

The two main incidents of the week were an attack on a naval base on Delft Island off the Jaffna peninsula before dawn on Thursday, and a bomb explosion in central Colombo only a few hours later. The Colombo explosion targeted an SLA bus travelling in the Fort area and resulted in one killed SLA soldier as well as three soldiers and civilians injured. Both incidents took place on Thursday. The SLMM sent a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to the site to interview the investigators and the survivors. Additionally two ground operations and two air strikes took place in the Vanni area. Furthermore, Uliyankulam and Omanthai E/E point were closed.

 

In addition to heavy confrontations, both international and local media report more frequently on two wars taking place in the island; – battles on the ground and a media battle turning into a propaganda war. Subsequently, it gets more and more difficult for the media to verify facts and figures from the conflict areas.

 

Northern Region

The situation in the Northern region remained similar to previous weeks, with a relatively high level of tension and with scattered attacks involving both conflicting Parties as well as civilians.

 

The main event of the week was an LTTE Sea Tiger attack on Delft Island in Jaffna district. The Sea Tigers mounted a surprise attack on the sub unit on the southern end of the island and managed to hold it for approximately three hours, before it was recaptured by the SLN. Reports of casualties and damages are very different from the two sides. According to the military less than 10 navy sailors got killed, but 18 Tigers lost their lives, while the Tigers claim they counted 35 bodies of dead sailors but only lost four of their own. The SLMM is not in a position to verify these figures At least two Sea Tiger crafts and one Navy Dvora are believed to have been destroyed. The Tigers showed pictures of weapons allegedly seized from the Navy.

 

In Vanni, two smaller military offensives took place, one in Mannar and one west of Omanthai. Additionally there were two air strikes in the district, one in Mannar and one in Mankulam. In all incidents casualty numbers and damages are unconfirmed.

 

As a result of the mentioned operations and attacks, the Omanthai and Uliyankulam E/E points were closed on May 21 and remained closed throughout the week.

 

Eastern Region

The Eastern Region remained calm, with a tension level similar to previous weeks. There was no shelling in the Batticaloa district, nor in other parts of ER, and the number of incidents remained low. Numbers of assassination and abduction reports seemed to have stabilised, with similar numbers being reported as in previous weeks.

 

On the other hand, parts of the Baticaloa district have witnessed some tension and confrontations between the security forces and LTTE. It appears that the LTTE presence has been reduced to the Thoppigala area. According to security forces, there are about 500 cadres entrenched in that jungle/rocky area. The military said this was confirmed by six young female LTTE cadres who were arrested in the Eravur area. The security forces are assuring that it is a question of time when the LTTE will leave the Thoppigala and the whole East, but the Tigers don’t acknowledge any weakness in the area.

 

Daily search operations by the Security Forces (SF) continue in Trincomalee district, and have also commenced in both Batticaloa and Ampara districts. There has been some tension in the southern part of Ampara with rumours that a number of LTTE cadres are hiding out in the area.

 

ER conducted a PID (Presence in Districts) to Batticaloa and Ampara. The team inspected the A15 road from Serunewara to Valachchanai in order to access an area that was inaccessible due to confrontations which resulted in capturing Sampoor and Verugal. The area is restricted for civilians. The team observed empty and demolished houses and schools. Moreover, the area is mined and demining work is ongoing in the area from Mahindapura to Verugal.