Over 850 people were issued permits in December to travel to Vavuniya. Permits to Colombo are more difficult. Large amounts of money have to be paid often through intermediaries who are mainly businessmen.
Many people who fled the fighting in the Vanni have left their family cards behind and are unable to obtain dry rations. Health facilities on the island are marginal and there is fear of an epidemic. Reports say only three lorryloads of dry rations arrived in December although 70 lorryloads were expected and many refugees have not received adequate dry rations for the last three months.
As Tiger infiltration into Mannar continued, the Army shelled some areas. Two civilians - an 18 year-old youth and a child - were killed by shells at Vattakandal in early December. Reports say shells also exploded near Pannamadu hospital. Three soldiers were killed when the LTTE attacked Army positions on 24 December at Kannanveddy on Mannar-Vavuniya road.