The government economic blockade of the LTTE-controlled Vanni has affected ordinary people in the region. According to Colombo newspaper Virakesari, 13,379 people died in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts as a result of military operations and the economic blockade between 1990 and 2000.
The two districts have not received Malathion insecticide and chlorine for disease prevention for several months. Thriposha milk food for children has also not arrived. According to reports, prices of rice and kerosene have risen. Regional Education Director P Ariyaratnam says that in Kilinochchi District there are only 696 teachers for 34,000 students whereas nearly 1,600 are needed.
In Vavuniya District, security was tightened to prevent LTTE infiltration and clashes between political parties in the run-up to general elections. On 2 November, Tamil group PLOTE members Kanthan and Prathap were shot dead in Poonthottam area. PLOTE has accused rival Tamil group TELO.
The security forces arrested several people in Vavuniya. Local people have expressed concern over the failure of the security forces to inform relatives and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) about arrests and detention. Reports say that in November alone HRC received 32 complaints of disappearances after arrest.
Two soldiers were killed by a landmine on 6 November at Maruthanamadu. Another LTTE mine claimed the life of a Buddhist priest, north-east of Medawachchiya on 18 November. Two days later, three policemen died in a mine blast at Poonavai on Vavuniya-Medawachchiya road. Another policeman was killed by a mine, east of Vavuniya town, on 28 November.