Further south-west in Vavuniya, after the Jaffna road was opened on 15 February, hundreds of people carried articles that were earlier banned, across the frontline. Rehabilitation minister Jayalath Jayawardena says 530,000 litres of fuel and 11,500 bags of cement were supplied to the Vanni in mid-February.
Although some of the restrictions on the freedom of movement were removed, the security forces continued to demand permits from travellers in some areas. Of the 29 types of passes, such as weekly and monthly permits, 15 are said to be still in force. In mid-February, the Supreme Court ordered the Attorney General to consult the government regarding permits in Vavuniya and clarify the issue before 3 March. The order followed a petition by two Vavuniya refugees that the requirement of permits violated their right to equality before the law and freedom of movement guaranteed in the Constitution.
Mullaitivu Government Agent S Sundaram informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe in early February that 29,000 families are qualified in the district, but only 12,000 received dry rations. Ceylon Tamil Teachers Association’s T Mahasivam says that over 2,000 new teachers are needed in the district. The government has not taken any action to confirm the appointments of 1,200 voluntary teachers.
Reports allege that a Tamil woman was raped by a soldier on 5 February at Cheddikulam, 14 miles south-west of Vavuniya town. The Vavuniya court has ordered him to be remanded.