The LTTE continue to infiltrate Army-held areas in Mannar. Security forces searched the Pesalai refugee camp on 17 March and all camp residents were paraded before Talayattis or masked informers. The military say Tiger finance controller Kalaiyarasan was shot dead at Murunkan on 26 March.
Despite the LTTE threat, fishing restrictions were relaxed following a meeting between fishermen and military officers on 17 March. Fishing hours were extended by one hour until 5pm. Earlier, fishing was allowed between 6am and 4pm. The fishing zone was also extended from two km to four km from the shore.
The Army granted permission to some 1,500 people to attend the Hindu Maha Sivarathiri festival at Mannar’s Thiruketheeswaram temple. The military has been accused of occupying and desecrating the temple for the last ten years. Colombo MP R Yogarajan says the devotees were photographed, videoed and finger-printed in Mannar before being allowed to go to the temple.