OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
This week was marked by a number of air strikes from both sides. On Thursday night Colombo was lounged into darkness when GOSL forces heard suspicious sounds from the air. As a result, the international airport was closed and power was cut off in the capital for an hour. Heavy fire from anti aircraft guns followed, but this seems to have been a false alarm.

Only 2 days later, at about 01.30 hrs on Sunday 29April the LTTE carried out an air strike in Colombo . Again, the city was soon after brought under a total blackout. It is reported that two Tiger rebel aircraft attacked an oil installation in Kolonnawa, and a gas facility in Muthurajawela, triggering off a large fire. The SLAF base at Katunayake also began firing flares and shooting into the sky fearing a second attack on the base in one month. Anti aircraft guns in Colombo were also firing towards the sky. In light of these incidents leading international airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific have temporarily suspended flights to Sri Lanka , owing to the deteriorating security situation in the country. 

On Monday 23 April the Tiger Air Force attacked Palaly in Jaffna district. The stories from LTTE and GOSL are highly diverging, but it seems that at least six SF soldiers were killed and SF ammunition storage facilities were damaged. This has however not been confirmed by SLMM.

From the SLAF side, attacks continued on the Vanni area. There were a total of eight reported air strikes inside Vanni, whereof three were carried out during dark hours. Four civilians have been reported injured as a result. It seems that SLAF emphasis has shifted somewhat from the Eastern Coastal areas to areas closer to Kilinochchi. Half the above air strikes have taken place within 8 km from the town and one as close as 3 km from the SLMM office.

In the Northern and Eastern areas the situation remains tense. In Jaffna shelling has been infrequent but constant throughout the week after heavy shelling on Monday morning. During the week, nine people were killed, among them a temple priest during a cordon and search operation on the islands and a journalist from the Tamil newspaper Uthayan. One abduction was reported and three people were reported missing. 

On Wednesday 25April a military confrontation between the SLA and the LTTE took place in the Madhu area in Mannar district. The reports from the parties concerning the clash are unclear, where both sides claim the other initiated the offensive. There were no other killings reported in Vavuniya and Mannar during the week, although one person was found dead in Yangaravoor. Two fishermen from Mannar were taken away by the SLA.

The army and the police are still conducting search and cordon operations in Trincomalee area and arresting people, using the terrorist prevention act. At least 19 persons were arrested during the week. Additionally three abductions were reported south of Trincomalee. Two persons were reported killed in the district. Two confrontations between LTTE and SLA took place in Gomarankadawala south-east of Muravewa on 26and April. Three SLN sailors were shot dead when LTTE cadres where crossing a road in the area.