A soldier was injured when the LTTE shelled Kinnayady Army camp 11 March. The Army searched villages in Valaichenai on 15 March and detained four youths after parading them before talayattis or masked informers. The following day, the Army interrogated over 75 people in Valaichenai town and detained several youths. In mid-March, the Army also began demolishing parapet walls around buildings in the town.
Restrictions on LTTE-controlled areas north of Vaharai continue, the military say, to prevent food reaching the Tigers. A person can take only 5kg rice or wheat flour and 2kg sugar beyond the Army camp at Vaharai. Reports say there is an acute shortage of food in Kathiraveli, five miles further north.
In Trincomalee District, the 2,500 families in Tiger-held Eechilampathai must obtain permits from Mahindapura Army camp to take food home.
Mobs forced closure of shops in Trincomalee town on 4 March, after nine Sinhalese fishermen went missing in the Mullaitivu sea. Relatives suspect that the fishermen were abducted by the LTTE. Seven soldiers were killed in a Tiger landmine attack at Othiyamalai in late March. The Navy say eight Sea Tigers were killed in a clash at sea near Nilaveli, eight miles north of Trincomalee town. The Navy and Sea Tigers clashed again on 16 March, 24 miles north of Trincomalee.
Clashes in the eastern sea continue to affect civilian travel to Jaffna from Trincomalee. In late March, the ship Lanka Muditha left for Jaffna with 600 refugees and 660 other passengers. Reports say that the Navy denied permission for the ship Ocean Success, hired by private traders, to carry food to Jaffna after clearance by the Defence Ministry.
In Amparai District, the LTTE launched an attack on the police Special Task Force (STF) at Sinnawathai on 5 March. Seven Tigers were killed and another was captured. Six security force personnel, including Inspector S Ratnaweera, were seriously wounded.
The police post adjoining Digamadulla MP ULM Muhaideen’s house in Sammanthurai came under grenade attack on 17 March. The attackers also shot and injured three Muslim civilians. Following these incidents, posters appeared in Veeramunai village, north-east of Amparai town, threatening Tamil residents.