As Batticaloa moaned the death of a popular politician, the people and organisations condemned the killing. The TULF appealed for public help but there is little hope of finding the killers, because a number of armed groups and death squads aligned to the government and the LTTE roam the east, operating with impunity. As a hartal (general strike) was observed in the district on 13 November to protest against the murder, the police arrested the MP’s assistant Sellathamby Loganathan who was injured in the attack.
Two day before the shooting incident, the LTTE fired on police posts in Eravur. The Army retaliated by shelling Sunkankerni in the night, killing four month-old S Satheesh and wounding 12 other civilians. Twelve houses were damaged. Two policemen and a civilian were injured in Tiger bomb attack on a police jeep on 10 November in Akkaraipatru.
Torrential rains caused havoc in Amparai and Batticaloa districts in mid-November. Over 100,000 families were affected by the floods. Batticaloa Government Agent R Monagurusamy says 40,000 acres of rice lands are inundated causing estimated losses of Rs 100 million. Damage to roads, tanks, houses and other buildings is estimated at Rs 700 million ($8.6 million) .
In Amparai District, over 2,500 refugees were not provided dry rations for the last three months. After a local MP intervened, dry rations for two months were issued in mid-November. The refugees were displaced in 1990 and have demanded repeatedly to be allowed to return to their villages.
In Trincomalee District, the ban on fishing following the sea-borne attacks of the LTTE in October, has affected 8,000 fisher families in coastal areas. The security forces also denied permission to the fishermen to hold a protest meeting against the ban. Both the Sea Tigers and the Navy are said to be strengthening their forces in the region and a showdown is expected.
The Army shelled Soodaikudah, five miles north-west of Muthur, on 13 November, killing B Kugarajah and damaging his house extensively. Over 450 families fled further south and took refuge in schools. The UNHCR and ICRC are assisting the refugees.
Reports say Rakkuli and Navalady villages, two miles west of Muthur, are being shelled for the last three weeks causing damage. The local people have written to President Chandrika requesting her intervention to stop the Army targeting populated areas.