Sources say a number of villages along the Vavuniya-Mankulam road captured by the Army have been destroyed. These areas have been planted with landmines, further restricting the movement of the people.
Water supply for people in the Vanni continues to remain a major problem despite the efforts of international NGOs. With drought predicted later in the year, the situation is expected to deteriorate. Vavuniya’s senior government officer, Government Agent K Ganesh says that 30% of the medicines for the first quarter of 1998 have not been sent to Tiger-held Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.
In Vavuniya, a policeman was killed when suspected LTTE cadre attacked PLOTE MP Y Balachandran’s house at Pandarikulam on 8 June. The house was destroyed with handgrenades. Reports say S Ganeshamurthy was abducted by PLOTE on 12 June.
Sri Lanka Red Cross driver Pathmanathan was detained by the Army in early June in Vavuniya. In a complaint to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission, United National Party (UNP) MP Jayalath Jayawardena says Mr Pathmanathan was arrested after accompanying a delegation from southern Sri Lanka to assess the situation of refugees in the Vanni.