By end of July the Army was still outside Puliyankulam, 12 miles from Vavuniya in Operation Jayasikurui (Certain Victory) launched on 13 May to capture the 40-mile road between Vavuniya and Kilinochchi, but shelled LTTE areas in the Vanni. Eight Tigers were killed by the Army at Vaddakachchi in Kilinochchi on 5 July. The Defence Ministry says 12 LTTE cadre and two soldiers died in a clash in Nedunkerni two days later.
Troops at Nedunkerni advancing south-west to Puliyankulam met heavy LTTE resistance at Sannasiparanthan on 1 August. An officer and 17 soldiers were killed. The Army says 50 Tigers also died in the clash. On the same day the LTTE launched a third major assault on Jayasikurui troops at Omanthai and Rambaikulam. The Tigers say 126 cadre died and claim 135 soldiers were killed. The Army admits to only 70 deaths and says that strengthened defences prevented the LTTE seizing artillery positions.
International agencies estimate that 70,000 people have been displaced by Operation Jayasikurui and there are currently 380,000 refugees in LTTE-controlled Vanni areas. NGOs warn that government’s 9 May order to provide dry rations to only 185,000 people, ie. a 55% reduction, will increase the risk of malnutrition. Senior government officer in Mullaitivu, Government Agent (GA) R Tharmakulasingham says that he has been given permission to provide relief only to 6,000 of the 11,000 newly arrived refugees in the district.
Water supply and shelter problems continue to cause concern in the Vanni. Many drinking water wells have dried following prolonged drought and water levels in reservoirs are falling. Humanitarian agencies provide assistance to drill new wells and continue to supply water by bowser to some remote coastal areas.
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu GAs have appealed for assistance to repair refugee huts and relocate displaced people occupying schools. Sri Lanka Red Cross Coordinator Sivanathan Kishor says refugees in Thunukkai, Yogapuram and Mallavi are receiving only one meal a day. Many are malnourished and have contracted disease. The health situation of Vanni refugees is deteriorating and malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory diseases are on the increase.
Reports say the Army is considering opening a new route for civilians crossing from the Vanni into Vavuniya if LTTE agrees. The new route will be through Tiger-controlled Sasthiri Koolankulam and military-held Marukkarampalai, a mile south.