16 December
● The SLA continued shelling from the Kallar SLA camp towards LTTE controlled Kathiraveli region. Krishnapillai Venukanthan, 19, from Echilampattu, Trincomalee area who earlier was displaced to Kathiraveli was seriously injured in the SLA shell attack.
● The SLA and Police recovered a powerful claymore mine weighing 2kg from Kandasamy Kovil Road in Vavuniya. Vavuniya police closed the road and sent the residents to the temple for safety, before the SLA bomb squad diffused the mine.
● An eleven year old boy was seriously injured when an Unexploded Ordnance he found behind his house exploded at Aalam Veethy, Meeravodai, Batticaloa. The injured boy was identified as A. Peroskhan whose face, hands, stomach and legs have been badly injured.
● Seven IDPs travelling from Kathiraveli to Vaharai in a two-wheel tractor were killed when an artillery shell fired by the SLA exploded on their vehicle. Fellow passengers told the officials that they had to bury the dead before returning to Kathiraveli.
15 December
● Fourteen Vaharai IDPs fleeing to Valaichennai by sea were killed when their boats capsized (see separate story).
● S. Raveendranath, the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, who was forced to resign his post recently following threats from the paramilitary Karuna Group, went missing from a High Security area in Colombo. Raveendranath, 55, and father of two girls, was living in Colombo as his resignation was not accepted.
● Batticaloa district ICRC handed over the bodies of six LTTE cadres killed in an ambush by the SLA and its paramilitary troopers at Miyankulam. The LTTE cadres, injured in an earlier battle, were being taken for treatment across the Colombo-Batticaloa road at Miyankulam, when they were ambushed. Three of the dead were identified as Ethirmannasingham Kannathasan, alias Sujithan, 18, of Kardiayanaru, Batticaloa, Abraham Ronard Antony, alias Thamil Mannan, 18, of Thanthamalai, Kokatticholai, Batticaloa and Tharman Jegan, alias Vipunakaran, 19, of Uthayanmoolai, Sithandy, Batticaloa. Details of the other three are not available.
● Kallaru SLA in Trincomalee launched shells on Kathiraveli civilian settlements in Vaharai in LTTE territory, killing two civilians and seriously injuring three. The SLA shells were directed against the Kathiraveli Kali Temple and its surrounding areas. One shell exploded on a house seriously injured the three residents occupying the house.
● The STF stationed at Pattiruppu Bridge in Batticaloa launched mortar shells on LTTE territory in Porathivu. The LTTE retaliated with mortar fire, and two civilians were injured in the exchange. Seven houses and an Irrigation department building were damaged in Kalavanchikudy.
● All NGOs in Jaffna are reinforcing the security arrangements at their offices in the light of the violent incidents and abductions taking place around the area recently. Offices of ICRC, UNHCR, UN, TRO and several other NGOs are located in Temple Road in Nallur Jaffna, also known as ' VIP' road. The wall enclosing the UN office compound is being strengthened and raised to ten feet making it difficult for anyone to trespass or break-in. ICRC office is constructing an additional iron fence four feet high to prevent invaders.
A representative of an international NGO who wish to remain anonymous said the hand grenade attack in front of ICRC office, the sporadic clashes between SLA troopers and armed men on Temple road where the ICRC office is located, the burning of the TRO office and the abduction of Halo Trust employees have created an environment of insecurity among the NGO community.
● The body of a family man with stab wounds was found inside his house at Mirusuvil north, in an area close to the SLA FDL in Thenmaradchi north. A motorcycle and another vehicle of Murugesu Sathiyanathan, 55, had been stolen by the killers. He lived alone after his family moved to Point Pedro in Vadamaradchi north when shelling intensified at the FDL position.
● Four armed men in two vehicles in Vepankulam in Vavuniya, called a trader out of his shop in Sinhalese and opened fire using T-56 type assault rifles, killing the trader, Ambikaipahar Manickavasagar, 59. on the spot.
● The bodies of two youths with gunshot injuries to their heads were found at Pichchaikulam in Murunkan, Mannar district.
14 December
● Officials of the SLHRC in Jaffna said that they have received several complaints of the SLA confiscating the National ID cards of young men and women during cordon and search operations, and refusing to return them.
Officials said SLA soldiers request the individuals to come to the SLA camps to get the cards back, but the youths have to make several visits before the SLA returns the cards. Several complaints made by the victims relate incidents of harassment and disruption to their normal life without the ID cards. Students have complained of having to miss school fearing being caught by the SLA soldiers without the IDs.
● A Muslim protestor was killed and 8 wounded when Police fired at the protestors in Kathankuddy town, Batticaloa. The town was in turmoil for the eighth consecutive day as police used bullets and teargas to control crowds which have set fire to a police sentry post, four auto rickshaws, four shops and four banks in Kathankudyy town. Orthodox Muslims, engaged in a spate of anger against the Islamic Sufi sect, demand the remains of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, one of the leaders of Sufi sect, be removed from Katthankudy soil and buried elsewhere. Mohammad Mustafa Mohammad Rafik, 38, was killed on the spot when police opened fire at the protestors. At least 25 houses were set on fire by the mob. A number motorcycles were destroyed.
● A Police Sub Inspector was injured when unidentified persons hurled hand grenades on a Buffel Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) taking police officials from Batticaloa Police headquarters. The police were on their way to a meeting with Muslim leaders to discuss ways to diffuse the escalating tension in Kattankudy, Batticaloa. M. Chandrasena was admitted to the Kattankudy district hospital. The attack took place along the Batticaloa Kalmunai road in Kattankudy town where Police, SLA and STF in large numbers maintain a strict security. Two grenades were thrown at the Buffel when the curfew was in force.
● Gunmen shot dead a fisherman of Koyilkudiyiruppu, Thambuthottam in Chavakachcheri area, Jaffna, while he was returning from fishing in Kachchai Sea. Gunmen waited for Nagalingan Jeyendran, 41, living near a SLA base in the area, on the road away from his home, shot him dead and escaped.
● Two men riding a motorbike shot dead a youth near the 4th Cross street in Thumpalai Road, Point Pedro. Tharmathas Mohanathas, 21, a fisherman living on Light House Lane, Sea Street was walking to Point Pedro Town along Thumpalai road when he was shot. The killing took place in the same area where two youths on their way to the Hospital disappeared one month earlier. Police have not been able to trace the abductors or the victims.
● Unidentified persons lobbed a bomb on the house of K. P. S. Hameed, Vice-chairman of Ottamavadi Predeshya Sabai, at M.P.C.Road in Meeravodai, Ottamavadi. Though he and his family were in the house when the bomb exploded, no one was hurt. Mr. Hameed, a father of two children and a former Police Sub-inspector, was elected to his post in the Predeshya Sabai election in Meeravodai on a UNP ticket.
13 December
● SLA troopers attacked a convoy of wounded LTTE cadres transported by the LTTE medics from Vaharai to LTTE controlled Karadiyanaru for medical treatment via sea route. SLA reports said 5 Tigers were killed. They also claimed a wounded SLA soldier, K.M.S. Ratnayake, who had been in LTTE custody since 8 October and was being transported by the Tiger medics, was captured. According to SLA claims more than 9 were wounded in the attack.
LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said the SLA has attacked an unarmed medical transport and described the attack, a “cowardly” act. “Wounded LTTE fighters and a wounded Sri Lanka Army man were being transported our medics,” Mr. Ilanthirayan said. “Also, a group of civilians who wanted to move out of Vaharai but not to a Sri Lanka Army controlled territory, were sent in the medical transport,” he said.
● Armed men abducted Rajukamal Raj, 16, from his house at Kali Kovil road in Araiyampathy, Batticaloa and shot him dead near Selvanagar junction in Ariyampathy from where Kathankudy police recovered his dead body. The police said that the youth may have been subjected to interrogation before being killed by the armed men who abducted him.
● Jaffna police issued a directive barring drivers from parking their vehicles in the central area of Jaffna town, except in seven places demarked for parking. Vehicles violating the directive will be confiscated, the Police warned. The SLA and police allocated these parking places mainly in civilian residential areas away from SLA and police sentry points.
12 December
● A lorry speeding through Kalmunai hit two Muslim civilians at Mavadipalli, Sammanthurai in Amparai district, killing both on the spot. The allegedly drunk Sinhala driver sped without stopping, hitting two more Muslim civilians in Sammanthurai town killing one and seriously injuring the other, and continued along on recklessly hitting two more Muslim civilians injuring both before stopping. Enraged Muslims in Sammanthurai town, set fire to the lorry throwing the driver's assistant into the fire, killing him.
The crowd stoned the police force and another high officer who tried to control the crowd. STF troopers, called in for assistance, opened fire on the crowd injuring three. The three dead men were identified as M. Nawfath, 25, M. Larief, 32, a father of one and Mohideen, 53, a father of five. The three injured in the STF shooting are Munas, 26, Riyas, 32 and Mubeen, 23. The owner, driver and assistant of the lorry are Sinhalese.
● Pottuvil police recovered the body of a male civilian with severe bodily injuries from a well in the premises of the office of the Veterinary Surgeon of Vaddiveli in Pottuvil, Amparai. The victim was identified as Kanapathypillai Mochinathan, 48, of Vaddiveli, a carpenter by profession who left for work on Friday but failed to return home.
● SLAF Kfir jets dropped eight bombs in four sorties on the villages of Kattumrivu, Kathiraveli and Palchenai in LTTE held territory in Batticaloa district. No casualties were reported though four houses of civilians were badly damaged.
● Civilians in Kathiraveli, Palchenai, Vammivettuvan and Kandalady, fleeing artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket fire from SLA positions had sought refuge in Vaharai hospital. If not for this evacuation from the bombed areas, many lives would have been lost.
● Intermittent shelling from Kallaru in Trincomalee, and Kadjuwathe, Punanai, Mankerny in Batticaloa and Singapuram in Polanaruwa SLA bases were made on LTTE held areas. The shells, falling and exploding near Vaharai Hospital, pose great danger to the lives of the people who have sought shelter there.
● Armed men opened fire on the policemen posted at the entrance of Uthayan Tamil daily office located in the Jaffna HSZ, seriously injuring one of them.
● Two armed men shot dead an employee of the Jaffna Teaching hospital at his house at Udupiddy in Vadamaradchi. The body of Paramsothy Anananthakumar, 47, a father of five, with more than six gunshot wounds, was taken to hospital for post-mortem examinations.
11 December
● Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device, targeting a bus in front of Al Hithaya School on Amapari Road in Akkaraipattu, seriously injuring six policemen and two civilians. The six policemen were identified as S. M. Sathath, 42, Nizar, 30, Mohamed Lebbe, 43, Marsup, 32, S. Amaradasa, 52 and Santhirakantha, 20. The civilians were Pirathaban, 22 from Thirukovil, the driver and S. Bala, 34, the conductor of the bus. The claymore blast, exploding 500 meters from Amparai town, damaged an electricity transformer nearby, completely cutting off electricity supply to Amparai city.
● Armed men abducted Thangarasa Kanthan, 16 of Pandiyirupu, Kalmunai at Kalmunai in Amparai district and shot him dead.
● An unidentified man shot dead a policeman attached to Palameenmadu police station at Kurukalmadam, Batticaloa. The assailant had followed the policeman and shot him while he was waiting for a bus. S. Chandrakumar, 34, a father of two, had been returning from two day's leave to see a sick child.
● A 50 year old civilian, caught in the cross fire in a clash between unidentified armed men and a SLA road patrol unit at Kokuvil in Jaffna was killed on the spot. The Kokuvil clash lasted for 15 minutes and came in the wake of a hand grenade attack by unidentified persons on SLA troopers, seriously injuring two of them.
● The SLA continued shelling from the Kallar SLA camp towards LTTE controlled Kathiraveli region. Krishnapillai Venukanthan, 19, from Echilampattu, Trincomalee area who earlier was displaced to Kathiraveli was seriously injured in the SLA shell attack.
● The SLA and Police recovered a powerful claymore mine weighing 2kg from Kandasamy Kovil Road in Vavuniya. Vavuniya police closed the road and sent the residents to the temple for safety, before the SLA bomb squad diffused the mine.
● An eleven year old boy was seriously injured when an Unexploded Ordnance he found behind his house exploded at Aalam Veethy, Meeravodai, Batticaloa. The injured boy was identified as A. Peroskhan whose face, hands, stomach and legs have been badly injured.
● Seven IDPs travelling from Kathiraveli to Vaharai in a two-wheel tractor were killed when an artillery shell fired by the SLA exploded on their vehicle. Fellow passengers told the officials that they had to bury the dead before returning to Kathiraveli.
15 December
● Fourteen Vaharai IDPs fleeing to Valaichennai by sea were killed when their boats capsized (see separate story).
● S. Raveendranath, the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, who was forced to resign his post recently following threats from the paramilitary Karuna Group, went missing from a High Security area in Colombo. Raveendranath, 55, and father of two girls, was living in Colombo as his resignation was not accepted.
● Batticaloa district ICRC handed over the bodies of six LTTE cadres killed in an ambush by the SLA and its paramilitary troopers at Miyankulam. The LTTE cadres, injured in an earlier battle, were being taken for treatment across the Colombo-Batticaloa road at Miyankulam, when they were ambushed. Three of the dead were identified as Ethirmannasingham Kannathasan, alias Sujithan, 18, of Kardiayanaru, Batticaloa, Abraham Ronard Antony, alias Thamil Mannan, 18, of Thanthamalai, Kokatticholai, Batticaloa and Tharman Jegan, alias Vipunakaran, 19, of Uthayanmoolai, Sithandy, Batticaloa. Details of the other three are not available.
● Kallaru SLA in Trincomalee launched shells on Kathiraveli civilian settlements in Vaharai in LTTE territory, killing two civilians and seriously injuring three. The SLA shells were directed against the Kathiraveli Kali Temple and its surrounding areas. One shell exploded on a house seriously injured the three residents occupying the house.
● The STF stationed at Pattiruppu Bridge in Batticaloa launched mortar shells on LTTE territory in Porathivu. The LTTE retaliated with mortar fire, and two civilians were injured in the exchange. Seven houses and an Irrigation department building were damaged in Kalavanchikudy.
● All NGOs in Jaffna are reinforcing the security arrangements at their offices in the light of the violent incidents and abductions taking place around the area recently. Offices of ICRC, UNHCR, UN, TRO and several other NGOs are located in Temple Road in Nallur Jaffna, also known as ' VIP' road. The wall enclosing the UN office compound is being strengthened and raised to ten feet making it difficult for anyone to trespass or break-in. ICRC office is constructing an additional iron fence four feet high to prevent invaders.
A representative of an international NGO who wish to remain anonymous said the hand grenade attack in front of ICRC office, the sporadic clashes between SLA troopers and armed men on Temple road where the ICRC office is located, the burning of the TRO office and the abduction of Halo Trust employees have created an environment of insecurity among the NGO community.
● The body of a family man with stab wounds was found inside his house at Mirusuvil north, in an area close to the SLA FDL in Thenmaradchi north. A motorcycle and another vehicle of Murugesu Sathiyanathan, 55, had been stolen by the killers. He lived alone after his family moved to Point Pedro in Vadamaradchi north when shelling intensified at the FDL position.
● Four armed men in two vehicles in Vepankulam in Vavuniya, called a trader out of his shop in Sinhalese and opened fire using T-56 type assault rifles, killing the trader, Ambikaipahar Manickavasagar, 59. on the spot.
● The bodies of two youths with gunshot injuries to their heads were found at Pichchaikulam in Murunkan, Mannar district.
14 December
● Officials of the SLHRC in Jaffna said that they have received several complaints of the SLA confiscating the National ID cards of young men and women during cordon and search operations, and refusing to return them.
Officials said SLA soldiers request the individuals to come to the SLA camps to get the cards back, but the youths have to make several visits before the SLA returns the cards. Several complaints made by the victims relate incidents of harassment and disruption to their normal life without the ID cards. Students have complained of having to miss school fearing being caught by the SLA soldiers without the IDs.
● A Muslim protestor was killed and 8 wounded when Police fired at the protestors in Kathankuddy town, Batticaloa. The town was in turmoil for the eighth consecutive day as police used bullets and teargas to control crowds which have set fire to a police sentry post, four auto rickshaws, four shops and four banks in Kathankudyy town. Orthodox Muslims, engaged in a spate of anger against the Islamic Sufi sect, demand the remains of M. S. Abdul Payilvan, one of the leaders of Sufi sect, be removed from Katthankudy soil and buried elsewhere. Mohammad Mustafa Mohammad Rafik, 38, was killed on the spot when police opened fire at the protestors. At least 25 houses were set on fire by the mob. A number motorcycles were destroyed.
● A Police Sub Inspector was injured when unidentified persons hurled hand grenades on a Buffel Armed Personnel Carrier (APC) taking police officials from Batticaloa Police headquarters. The police were on their way to a meeting with Muslim leaders to discuss ways to diffuse the escalating tension in Kattankudy, Batticaloa. M. Chandrasena was admitted to the Kattankudy district hospital. The attack took place along the Batticaloa Kalmunai road in Kattankudy town where Police, SLA and STF in large numbers maintain a strict security. Two grenades were thrown at the Buffel when the curfew was in force.
● Gunmen shot dead a fisherman of Koyilkudiyiruppu, Thambuthottam in Chavakachcheri area, Jaffna, while he was returning from fishing in Kachchai Sea. Gunmen waited for Nagalingan Jeyendran, 41, living near a SLA base in the area, on the road away from his home, shot him dead and escaped.
● Two men riding a motorbike shot dead a youth near the 4th Cross street in Thumpalai Road, Point Pedro. Tharmathas Mohanathas, 21, a fisherman living on Light House Lane, Sea Street was walking to Point Pedro Town along Thumpalai road when he was shot. The killing took place in the same area where two youths on their way to the Hospital disappeared one month earlier. Police have not been able to trace the abductors or the victims.
● Unidentified persons lobbed a bomb on the house of K. P. S. Hameed, Vice-chairman of Ottamavadi Predeshya Sabai, at M.P.C.Road in Meeravodai, Ottamavadi. Though he and his family were in the house when the bomb exploded, no one was hurt. Mr. Hameed, a father of two children and a former Police Sub-inspector, was elected to his post in the Predeshya Sabai election in Meeravodai on a UNP ticket.
13 December
● SLA troopers attacked a convoy of wounded LTTE cadres transported by the LTTE medics from Vaharai to LTTE controlled Karadiyanaru for medical treatment via sea route. SLA reports said 5 Tigers were killed. They also claimed a wounded SLA soldier, K.M.S. Ratnayake, who had been in LTTE custody since 8 October and was being transported by the Tiger medics, was captured. According to SLA claims more than 9 were wounded in the attack.
LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said the SLA has attacked an unarmed medical transport and described the attack, a “cowardly” act. “Wounded LTTE fighters and a wounded Sri Lanka Army man were being transported our medics,” Mr. Ilanthirayan said. “Also, a group of civilians who wanted to move out of Vaharai but not to a Sri Lanka Army controlled territory, were sent in the medical transport,” he said.
● Armed men abducted Rajukamal Raj, 16, from his house at Kali Kovil road in Araiyampathy, Batticaloa and shot him dead near Selvanagar junction in Ariyampathy from where Kathankudy police recovered his dead body. The police said that the youth may have been subjected to interrogation before being killed by the armed men who abducted him.
● Jaffna police issued a directive barring drivers from parking their vehicles in the central area of Jaffna town, except in seven places demarked for parking. Vehicles violating the directive will be confiscated, the Police warned. The SLA and police allocated these parking places mainly in civilian residential areas away from SLA and police sentry points.
12 December
● A lorry speeding through Kalmunai hit two Muslim civilians at Mavadipalli, Sammanthurai in Amparai district, killing both on the spot. The allegedly drunk Sinhala driver sped without stopping, hitting two more Muslim civilians in Sammanthurai town killing one and seriously injuring the other, and continued along on recklessly hitting two more Muslim civilians injuring both before stopping. Enraged Muslims in Sammanthurai town, set fire to the lorry throwing the driver's assistant into the fire, killing him.
The crowd stoned the police force and another high officer who tried to control the crowd. STF troopers, called in for assistance, opened fire on the crowd injuring three. The three dead men were identified as M. Nawfath, 25, M. Larief, 32, a father of one and Mohideen, 53, a father of five. The three injured in the STF shooting are Munas, 26, Riyas, 32 and Mubeen, 23. The owner, driver and assistant of the lorry are Sinhalese.
● Pottuvil police recovered the body of a male civilian with severe bodily injuries from a well in the premises of the office of the Veterinary Surgeon of Vaddiveli in Pottuvil, Amparai. The victim was identified as Kanapathypillai Mochinathan, 48, of Vaddiveli, a carpenter by profession who left for work on Friday but failed to return home.
● SLAF Kfir jets dropped eight bombs in four sorties on the villages of Kattumrivu, Kathiraveli and Palchenai in LTTE held territory in Batticaloa district. No casualties were reported though four houses of civilians were badly damaged.
● Civilians in Kathiraveli, Palchenai, Vammivettuvan and Kandalady, fleeing artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket fire from SLA positions had sought refuge in Vaharai hospital. If not for this evacuation from the bombed areas, many lives would have been lost.
● Intermittent shelling from Kallaru in Trincomalee, and Kadjuwathe, Punanai, Mankerny in Batticaloa and Singapuram in Polanaruwa SLA bases were made on LTTE held areas. The shells, falling and exploding near Vaharai Hospital, pose great danger to the lives of the people who have sought shelter there.
● Armed men opened fire on the policemen posted at the entrance of Uthayan Tamil daily office located in the Jaffna HSZ, seriously injuring one of them.
● Two armed men shot dead an employee of the Jaffna Teaching hospital at his house at Udupiddy in Vadamaradchi. The body of Paramsothy Anananthakumar, 47, a father of five, with more than six gunshot wounds, was taken to hospital for post-mortem examinations.
11 December
● Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device, targeting a bus in front of Al Hithaya School on Amapari Road in Akkaraipattu, seriously injuring six policemen and two civilians. The six policemen were identified as S. M. Sathath, 42, Nizar, 30, Mohamed Lebbe, 43, Marsup, 32, S. Amaradasa, 52 and Santhirakantha, 20. The civilians were Pirathaban, 22 from Thirukovil, the driver and S. Bala, 34, the conductor of the bus. The claymore blast, exploding 500 meters from Amparai town, damaged an electricity transformer nearby, completely cutting off electricity supply to Amparai city.
● Armed men abducted Thangarasa Kanthan, 16 of Pandiyirupu, Kalmunai at Kalmunai in Amparai district and shot him dead.
● An unidentified man shot dead a policeman attached to Palameenmadu police station at Kurukalmadam, Batticaloa. The assailant had followed the policeman and shot him while he was waiting for a bus. S. Chandrakumar, 34, a father of two, had been returning from two day's leave to see a sick child.
● A 50 year old civilian, caught in the cross fire in a clash between unidentified armed men and a SLA road patrol unit at Kokuvil in Jaffna was killed on the spot. The Kokuvil clash lasted for 15 minutes and came in the wake of a hand grenade attack by unidentified persons on SLA troopers, seriously injuring two of them.
