After the Army operation, communication with the LTTE for food transport arrangements, has become more difficult. NGOs say that there is continuous shell fire and the new route for food lorries from Uyilankulam through Pallamadu in Mannar District along the western coast is hazardous.
Food lorries are allowed into LTTE areas of the Vanni on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays escorted by the ICRC. Army checking and cross-loading at 9th Mile Post near Uyilankulam must be completed before 3.30pm each day to allow lorries to reach northern Vanni by nightfall. The ICRC has agreed to escort food lorries only three days a week.
GA Ganesh says due to these reasons, he is unable to arrange more food lorries to the Vanni. According to Mullaitivu GA, R Tharmakulasingham, there is an acute shortage milk food and kerosene in the district. The Army prevented food lorries into LTTE-controlled areas for a week from 10 May.
The military launched Operation Rana Gosha III on 10 May, and advanced north-west from Madhu towards Vidataltivu. In heavy fighting at Periyamadu, 53 combatants died and over 200 were injured, reports say. The Army announced on 16 May that 32 sq. mile territory around Periyamadu had been captured from the LTTE.
The Navy say that an LTTE boat carrying weapons was sunk near Mullaitivu on 1 May killing 11 cadre. Four policemen died and 11 others were wounded in a Tiger attack at Poovarasankulam on 10 May. Over 2,500 people fled north-west to Thunukai when the Army shelled Pandiyankulam in mid-May.