24 December
● LTTE cadres repulsed an attack by the STF inside LTTE controlled Kanchikudichcharu area in Amparai district. A group of STF soldiers from Thandiyadi and Kanchirankuda Camps infiltrated up to 2 km inside into the LTTE territory and took cover near Kanchikudichcharu school where a fierce fighting broke out when an LTTE foot patrol came under attack. Three STF soldiers were injured in the retaliatory shelling by the LTTE, and the infiltration group retreated to barracks. LTTE cadres Nishanthan and Jegan were killed in the attack. The STF claimed that it has recovered 2 T-56 rifles, 1 walkie-talkie and 196 rounds in the search operation.
● Sri Lankan forces arrested four Tamil youths in a combined search operation conducted by the SLA and Police in Dehiwala, Colombo. Two of the arrested youths are residents of Puttur and Achchuveli in Jaffna district and the rest from Kaduwela area in Colombo.
● Seven Tamil youths including a woman were arrested in Habaraduwa in Galled district and in Kandy town in two separate cordon and search operations conducted by security forces. The security forces arrested a Tamil youth and woman when they were walking along Dalada Veediya in Kandy Town. Five Tamil youths were arrested in Habaraduwa in Galle district.
● Appathurai Insam, 22, from Udupiddy area disappeared after he went for prayer in a temple in Udupiddy.
● Rasenthiram Illankeswaran, 29, a trader from Chunnakam was reported missing after he went to Maruthnarmadam bazaar area.
● Annamalai Anbarasan, 30, a civilian from Valvettiturai disappeared on his way to Jaffna town from his home.
23 December
● The SLA launched an artillery barrage simultaneously from three directions, Kallaru SLA camp, north of Vaharai, Karadikkulam, in the west and from Mankerni SLA camp in the south towards Kathiraveli, Kandalady, Palchenai, Vammiveduvan, Vellayadimadu and Uriyankattu villages in the Vahara region. The artillery barrage continued for more than 8 hours. Vaharai hospital reported artillery explosions 200 meters close to Vaharai hospital.
● LTTE combatants successfully repulsed an attack by the SLA and its collaborating paramilitary group from Black Bridge SLA camp at Chenkalady in Batticaloa on the LTTE held Karadiyanaru area. Three SLA troopers were seriously injured while no one was injured on their side, the LTTE said. The clash took place near the LTTE FDL positions in Koduvamadu into which the SLA tried to penetrate. Two houses, home gardens and paddies belonging to residents in Karadiyanaru area were damaged in the mortar firing launched by the Chenkalady SLA camp. None of the inhabitants was hurt, though four goats were killed.
● Armed men opened fire on SLA patrol unit troopers who were conducting a search for armed persons said to be moving around at Manandy in Vadamaradchi, killing one and seriously injuring two of the SLA troopers. The attack on the SLA troopers who were engaged in a search operation launched on information that armed persons were in Thikkam, were fired upon when they were emerging out of liquor distillery in the Thikkam area.
● Armed men opened fire on persons returning from a funeral killing two on the spot and seriously injuring six, at Puthukudiruppu in Batticaloa. The two killed were identified as Navaratnam Sivendran, 23, of Puthukudiruppu and Sellathamby Gunasingham, 31, of Thalankuda. The wounded were identified as Kunarathnam Kanesalingam, 22, Karunakaran Thiyagarajan, 23, Muthulingam Mogan, 34, Sanmugam Satheeswaran, 22, Poopalappillay Kagendiran, 26 and Kirushnappillai Thevakumar, 22. The armed men, hiding by the road along which the victims were returning after participating in the funeral of Sinnan Soundaran of Beach Road at Puthukudiruppu, opened fire.
● Two armed men following on a motor cycle opened fire on two civilians riding a motor bicycle along Kachai Road at Kodikamam in Thenmaradchi, killing one on the spot and seriously injuring the other. The dead man was identified as Sinnathamby Ketheeswaran, 34, from Thavasikulam in Kodikamam. The injured man, Nallathamby Rajathurai, 63, who is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital is a relative of the dead Ketheeswaran. Kachai Road, along which the shooting took place, is situated within Thenmaradchi area where SLA troopers are always present.
● A Tamil youth, identified as Mayuran, working in a telecommunication center along 37th Lane in Wellawatte, Colombo was abducted by unidentified persons.
● Subramaniam Rubanthas, 33, a family man from Kodady in Jaffna was missing after he left to Chavakacheri from his home.
22 December
● SLAF Kfir jets bombed a Mullaithivu suburb. This followed a similar bombing raid on Wednesday, when Vanni observed the funeral of LTTE theoretician and Chief Negotiator Mr. Anton Balasingham. At that time SLAF bombers targeted a suburb in Puthudiyiruppu in Mullaithivu district.
● A youth, from Thunalai, Pandaitharippu in Valigamam, whose family members had complained to the SLHRC Jaffna office of his disappearance earlier, was found to be held at the Special Detention Police Camp at Kankesanthurai by Jaffna SLHRC officers, when they went on their weekly visit to the Special Detention Camp.
Manoharaseelan Thevaseelan, 21 who was discovered at the Special police detention camp by SLHRC Jaffna officials, headed by its co-ordinating officer S. Surenthirarajah, accompanied by legal officer M. Remedius. Thevaseelan's family members had complained to the SLHRC Jaffna office that he had been missing since he went to work and they suspected SLA and the paramilitary cadres collaborating with it had abducted Thevaseelan.
In the context of many youths missing in Jaffna peninsula, alleged to be abducted by the SLA and its paramilitary group, the news of Thevaseelan being held by the police without his family being informed of his arrest, was a shock to the community, confirming their suspicions that killings and abductions of youth are closely connected to the SLA and its paramilitary cadres.
● Armed men opened fire on the office of Karuna group on New Muhathuvaram Road in Batticaloa injuring one Karuna group member. There were more than eight Karuna group members inside the office at the time of the shooting. The firing on the Karuna group office, located in front of the Batticaloa Petroleum Corporation, lasted for nearly 15 minutes.
● Sebastiampillai Aneenthiran, a family man aged 31 from Kayts, one of the Jaffna islets, was found missing after he had gone to buy provisions at the local shops.
● Kanthiah Latheesan, a 20 year old student from Moolai, Vaddukodai disappeared after he went to attend classes in private tutory at Kannathidy in Jaffna town.
A student, Vijayathas Aravinthan, 17, from Valvettithurai in Vadamaradchy was forcibly taken away from his house by armed men arriving in a Buffel armoured car and a white van.
21 December
● Two children were seriously injured when a mortar shell, launched from the Kumburumoolai SLA camp at Kiran in Batticaloa, fell and exploded on a house in Kiran. V. Sathurjini, 2, and T. Suman, 9, both from Kiran, were playing in the front yard of the house.
● The SLA handed over the dead body of a youth to Vavuniya hospital claiming the youth was killed in a fight between the SLA and the LTTE at Nedunkulam area in Kidachoori in Vavuniya when five LTTE cadres entered 50 meters into SLA held area. An SLA trooper also showed the Vavuniya District Magistrate 2 claymores, 2 hand grenades, 2 jackets, 2 magazine rounds they claimed to have recovered from the site of the incident.
● A 70 year old patient suffering from pneumonia succumbed to his illness at the Vaharai hospital for want of medicine, Dr. Thurairasa Varatharajah of Vaharai hospital said. The doctor had earlier made an urgent appeal to transfer 7 critically ill patients warded at Vaharai hospital for further treatment to Batticaloa Teaching hospital to the ICRC and the Deputy director of health services in Batticaloa, but the patients are yet to be taken to Batticaloa Teaching hospital. K. Nagendran 70, of Palchenai is the patient who died of high pneumonia fever.
20 December
● Unidentified persons triggered a claymore device concealed in a rubble heap along the A9 route at Thandikulam in Vavuniya, seriously injuring a SLA trooper. The claymore attack, targeting the SLA troopers on a tractor, took place close to the site near Thandikulam Agriculture Farm School where five SLA troopers including an officer were killed on November 18 in a similar claymore attack.
● Valvetithurai police recovered the dead body of Thangarasa Tharmakulasingham, 24, of Thunalai east, Karavedy in Vadamaradchi, among shrubs in a deserted place at Vallaiveli in Vadamaradchi. He had a 9 mm gunshot wound to the head. His parents said he had been abducted forcefully by armed men in a white van Tuesday on Nelliady road while he was riding his bicycle. The family members of Tharmakulasingham said they suspect the SLA and the collaborating paramilitary cadres, to be behind the abduction and killing. Tharmakulasingam was previously arrested along with another youth by the SLA who accused them of lobbing hand grenade on the SLA troopers at the Nelliady camp. They were acquitted for want of evidence by the district court, the parents added.
● Armed men clad in military fatigues abducted 19 youths, 16 boys and 3 girls, from a private bus en route to Colombo from Kattankudy at Korakallimadu in Kiran, in Batticaloa district. The abductions have taken place on Katankudy - Polonnaruwa route, heavily guarded by SLA soldiers. Parents of six children have lodged complaints with the Police. Parents who opposed the abductions were beaten by the kidnappers, alleged to be paramilitary cadres of Karuna Group.
19 December
● Two LTTE cadres were transferred to Kilinochchi from Amparai to face disciplinary action for enlisting underage youths from a tuition centre in Thirukkovil. All the 23 civilians, including the 21 students, in the custody of an LTTE unit attached to a training camp, were freed after an internal investigation initiated by LTTE Commander Ram. Two teachers, Tharmarasa Vigneswaran and Velupillai Uthayakumar, were among the persons taken by the LTTE unit from the tuition centre. The Tigers have outlawed recruitment of under-17s and participation in combat of under-18s.
● A paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group was killed and another wounded when unidentified gunmen armed with RPG launchers attacked the office of the group in Kalmunai town, Batticaloa. The paramilitary office, located between a police post and the STF camp in Kalmuani, was completely damaged in the attack. STF officials identified the killed Karuna cadre as "Castro."
● Two armed men shot dead the owner of a hairdressing saloon, Anthonypillai Pirabakaran, 32, a family man, close to Athiady temple on the Thondamanaru - Valvetithurai road in Vavettithurai in Vadamaradchi at his saloon. The killing, which took place in an area continuously monitored by the SLA troopers, has shocked Athikovilady residents.
18 December
● Unidentified men using pistols shot dead three cadres of the paramilitary Karuna Group standing along the Main Road near Chenkalady market in Batticaloa. One civilian standing by was seriously injured in the shooting. The three dead victims were identified as Sellathamby Suthan, 22 of Krishnan Temple Road, Valaichenai, Packiarasa Nithyarasa allias Illamoliyan, 20 of Kalmadu Road, Vinayagapuram, Valaichenai and M. Iniyavan 18, of Kali Kovil Road, Mavadivembu. The injured civilian were identified as Kathirgamathamby Kovinthan, an auto rickshaw driver from Uma Mill Road in Kommanthurai, Batticaloa.
● Three armed men driving a car shot dead three men and injured a woman at their house at Chalampaikulam in Vavuniya. Two of the dead men were identified as Arunachalam Arulkumar from Sittandy in Batticaloa, and Mr Sulojan from Vavuniya. The third man killed is said to be from Killinochchi. The injured woman is Sulojan Mathanalogini, 22.
● M. S. M. Casim, 46, resident of Sainthamaruthu in Kalmunai and a father of one, a Police Sergeant attached to Kalmunai in Amparai district, shot himself dead at the Kalmunai police station lodge, using his friend's AK47 rifle.
● Three youths who left their homes Friday morning to go to Chavakacheri in Thenmaradchi were reported missing by their parents at the SLHRC Jaffna office. One of the youths was on his motor cycle while the other two went riding bicycles and all three had to pass Chemani area between Chavakacheri and Jaffna, close to the SLA camp, where two months ago many youths had mysteriously disappeared. Sooriyakumar Suhanthan, 20 from Thavady, Kokuvil, and two friends Nahanathan Senthoorapiriyan, 17 and Nahanathy Parthipan, 18, both form Araly Road, Jaffna are the three youths reported missing. The two youths had chosen to trade in coconuts as their families were on the edge of poverty, the parents said. The two friends had gone on their bicycles while the youth from Thavady had gone riding his motor cycle.
