The ICRC began providing protection to the ship on 7 August, following an agreement with the government on 26 July. The ICRC has security guarantees from the government and the LTTE. On 21 August, the Northern Province Rehabilitation Authority assigned the responsibility of issuing ship tickets, to government ally, EPDP. The other Tamil parties allege that this is to help EPDP’s election campaign in Jaffna.
In Mannar District, the procedure of registration of passengers travelling to Colombo, at Cheddikulam, 35 miles south-east of Mannar town, has been reintroduced. All passengers from Mannar are expected to register and obtain permits in Mannar before leaving and re-register at Cheddikulam.
The LTTE say that they attacked two military camps in Puthukulam on 8 August killing nine soldiers and wounding 13. The Army heavily shelled Tiger territory on 29 August allegedly to relieve an Army unit that had penetrated the area. Military camps at Vankalai, Thallady and Uyilankulam came under LTTE shell fire. Shelling continued the next day and eight soldiers were injured.