SUMMARY

The SLMM was informed that the police would increase its forces from 2,000 to 4,000 officials in Ampara. Moreover, a new Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp would be established in the Thoppigala area, according to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 23 Division in Batticaloa district.

 

The SLMM received several complaints regarding extortion and harassment by the so-called Karuna group in Batticaloa and Ampara. It was also reported that the Karuna group summoned people to their offices for questioning. The GOC told the SLMM it was a requirement to disarm the Karuna group in order to restore normalcy in the east.

 

Three aerial bombings were carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in the northern part of the country. Areas east of Mankulam and close to Pooneryn were hit on 24 and 25 July respectively, and on 27 July an aerial bombing occurred in Alampil, Mullaitivu. No fatalities were reported from any of the locations according to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Peace Secretariat (LTTE PS) in Kilinochchi.

 

16 soldiers were killed during the week in two separate incidents. One Claymore bomb going off in Cheddikulam killed 12 SLA soldiers while four Home Guard soldiers were killed, allegedly by the LTTE, at their post in Thiruwegama, south-east of Vavuniya. Six LTTE cadres were killed in a clash with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in the Mannar Sea.

 

Tension rose in Jaffna because of rising commodity prices and little availability. Flow of commodities was reported to be a concern in the Wanni area as well. In Mannar the Local Monitoring Committee (LMC) regularly received complaints on extortion.

 

A hartal was organised by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the eastern and northern regions on 26 July, with people protesting against the establishment of Sampur and Muthur as high security zones (HSZ). No violence was reported as a result of the demonstrations.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

There were registered a decrease of military activities in the east. The SLA continued minor operations in Thoppigala.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

On 28 July an unknown person shot and killed a 16-year-old Muslim girl in Batticaloa, while a 28-year-old man was reported killed in an explosion in Thihilivettai while riding on his motorcycle three days earlier, on 25 July.

 

On 28 July a male, age 29, was abducted by unknown perpetrators in a white van in Trincomalee.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Shelling from Vavuniya continued throughout the week towards LTTE controlled area in the north.

 

During the week three air strikes were registered in LTTE controlled area. The LTTE PS informed of no fatalities. The first was registered early morning on 24 July 5km east of Mankulam, while another was registered on 25 July close to Pooneryn. On 27 July at 12.30pm SLAF fighter jets delivered three bombs in the Alampil area. When inspecting the area, the SLMM identified that two bombs had gone off close to the local catholic school and church, while one bomb had not detonated and was secured on the ground. A girl, age 12, was injured.

 

On 24 July four Home Guard soldiers were killed, allegedly by the LTTE, at their post located in Thiruwegama, Vavuniya district. According to the village leader this is the second time soldiers were killed at the post, with fatalities totalling seven Home Guard soldiers.

 

13 soldiers and civilian personnel working with the SLA were killed as a result of a Claymore bomb outside the district hospital in Cheddikulam on 24 July at 12.30pm. The soldiers were traveling on a bus on their way for leave. In addition, nine civilians in a nearby restaurant were injured in the incident.

 

Two LTTE boats sunk and six LTTE cadres were killed in a clash with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) 6km off the coast of Pesali in the Mannar Sea on 28 July, according to the SLN.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

In a meeting with the SLMM on 23 July, The Local Monitoring Committee (LMC) in Kilinochchi raised concern about shortage of goods in the northern region, and consequently rising prices on essential goods and fuel.

 

A man, age 26, employee at the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), was killed in Anaikoddai, located in Valikamam south-west, in Jaffna by unknown gunmen on 23 July.  

 

 

ADMINISTRATION

Local SLMM staff based in Jaffna expressed their concern for the security in the region.

 

Due to an increase of complaints (cf. above), the SLMM Northern Region Office considered solutions on how to secure a more frequent presence in Mannar.