Cooperative stores began supplying only one or two litres of kerosene to each family. Only seven of the 19 petrol service stations were open and provided limited amounts of petrol and diesel. On 17 November, a ship arrived from Colombo with 600,000 litres of diesel. Although the supply was for the people of Jaffna, reports say that the Army took 150,000 litres for its own use.
The Airforce announced that with effect from 12 November, people travelling to Jaffna by air with a return ticket need not obtain permits from the Defence Ministry. The requirement of permits for travel from Jaffna to southern areas and to Jaffna by ship through Trincomalee would remain. But when people went to Heli Tours in Colombo to buy air tickets to Jaffna, they were told to obtain permits from the police.
In addition to these problems, the people of Jaffna faced violence in the run-up to general elections on 5 December. Grenades were thrown at the Jaffna University hostel on 28 November, injuring two students. Reports say that the University students had been carrying out house-to-house campaign in support of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
A gang said to be belonging to the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) attacked a TNA rally on Kayts Island on 28 November. One man was killed and another died later in hospital. Nineteen people, including TNA candidates were wounded. EPDP leader and Northern Rehabilitation minister Douglas Devananda claimed that the people of Kayts Island rose up against the TNA. The following day, a hartal (general strike) was observed in Jaffna, protesting against the attack. Schools, government offices and shops were closed.
Jaffna magistrate RT Vignarajah ordered the arrest of three EPDP members following the attack. The islands west of the Jaffna peninsula have remained under the control of the EPDP for several years. The TNA say that their members were prevented from campaigning on the islands since election nominations.
The Army arrested Jaffna University student Arumugam Sutharsan at his residence in Thirunelveli on 10 November suspected of links with the LTTE. The Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission has received complaints that 13 year-old student Linganathan Nijendran of St Henry's College, Ilavalai is missing from 12 November. Another student Senthamil Selvan, 17, is missing since 24 October. Report say that the Army shot dead a youth in Kopai, five miles north-east of Jaffna town, on 26 November. His body was handed over to the Jaffna hospital.