Military officers say that people can resettle in Vadamunai and Uthuchenai, north-west of Mylanthanai, which are under the control of the LTTE. According to the Army, resettlement cannot be allowed in Mylanthanai as the area is held partly by the LTTE and partly by the Army. Because of this reason, they claim that security of the people cannot be guaranteed. Press reports say that UNHCR officers are continuing to make representations to the Army.
A Muslim delegation led by local MP Basheer Segudawood met LTTE leaders, including Ramesh, in the presence of the SLMM on 27 March at Vavunativu. Muslim-owned lands under the control of LTTE was the main subject of discussion. The Tigers agreed to allow Muslims to cultivate their lands in LTTE-held areas of Batticaloa District from the next cultivation season.
A hartal (general strike) was observed in Trincomalee District on 14 March and in Batticaloa and Amparai districts on 17 March, as a protest against the sinking of an LTTE ship off Mullaitivu on 10 March. Many shops, government offices and schools were closed. Despite this support, complaints of child recruitment by the LTTE continued. Eravur police say Kitnapillai Gopalan was abducted by the Tigers for refusing to allow his son to join the militant movement.
Incidents of confrontation between the security forces and the LTTE were also causing concern. In Trincomalee District, tension heightened on 11 March, after 200 Tigers were denied entry by police into Morawewa area at midnight from Thambalakamam. The LTTE cadre were armed. Under the ceasefire agreement, LTTE members are not allowed to enter Army-controlled areas with arms or in uniform. Army officers rushed to the scene and after discussion, the Tigers agreed to return to their area.
In early March, the Trincomalee magistrate declared the deaths of S Konalingam, K Sasitharan and student Anthony Mayuran as homicides. The three were killed during a demonstration against the shooting of seven Tamils in Batticaloa District by the police Special Task Force in October last year. Witnesses accuse the police of throwing a grenade and shooting into the crowd of protesters. The court ordered an identification parade to find the policemen responsible for the deaths.