In Mannar, fishing was restricted for many years by Emergency regulations and the Sri Lankan security forces. Since the ceasefire there has been some freedom and fishermen were recently allowed night fishing. They say that their livelihoods are affected by Indian encroachment and accuse the Indian fishermen of damaging boats and nets. Over 2,500 fishermen took part in a demonstration in Mannar District on 10 March, against incursions by Indian fishermen. The demonstrators handed a petition to Mannar Government Agent V Visvalingam, to be sent to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.
Mr Visvalingam advised them against antagonizing the Indian fishermen, saying that the 60,000 Sri Lankans remaining in refugee camps in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu may come to harm. The Indian Navy arrested 19 Sinhalese fishermen on 16 March for entering Indian territorial waters. They were detained in a jail in Madurai. Four days later, 15 of them were released.
In Vavuniya District, 35 families in Sithamparapuram and Poonthottam refugee camps were sent to Jaffna in buses on 12 March. According to Rehabilitation Director Ms Ketheeswaran 1,800 people have returned to Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts from Vavuniya camps since the ceasefire of February 2002.
The refugees say they are returning even though their houses have been destroyed. They are hoping to live temporarily with friends or relatives and appeal for government assistance. In Kilinochchi District, of the 15,500 families resettled, only 1,880 have received the government resettlement assistance of Rs 15,000 ($158).