Rains in the eastern region of Ceylon caused flooding in tent camps housing thousands of people made homeless by the December 26 Tsunami that killed about 39,000 in the south Asian Island nation. "The tent floors are wet or flooded," A. K. Thavarajah, a relief official for the Batticaloa / Amparai district, on 3^rd April. "Mats and sheets on which refugee children sleep have got soggy with the unexpected rains."

Hundreds of people are sheltering in buildings in Batticaloa that were used to store rice and are now in a dilapidated state with leaking roofs, Ceylon was the worst hit country after Indonesia by the tsunami disaster. About 17,000 people were killed in the mainly Tamil north and eastern region. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been fighting for two decades for a separate homeland in he northeast, has accused the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga of failing to provide enough aid to rebel-held areas of the island of 19.7 million people, a charge the administration denies. About half a million people were left homeless by the Tsunami that devastated coastal towns and villages. Sri Lanka needs $ 1.5 billion in aid to recover from the disaster, the Asian Development Bank, the World bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation said last month. About $ 900 million has been committed to help Sri Lanka, the ADB said last month. Damage from the Tsunami threatens economic expansion that has benefited from a cease-fire in February 2002 that halted the civil war. Sri Lanka needs to rebuild 100,000 houses, as well as ports, hotels and roads. Peace talks between the Liberation Tigers and the government, under the Norway brokered cease-fire, have been stalled since April 2003. The civil war has killed about 60,000 people.

"Unidentified gunmen" shot dead a senior Sri Lankan Government official in the eastern Batticaloa district adding a new turn to the year long internecine feud in the east. Eastern police, who suspect the LTTE‘s hand in the killing, said the victim, T. Kailainathan, was conducting interviews in Batticaloa to select students for a vocational education programme conducted by the Ministry of Vocational Education, which is headed by the LTTE’s arch-critic, Douglas Devananda. The victim was a director in the Vocational Education ministry, and had come from Colombo to conduct interviews in Trincomalee and Batticaloa, police said. "The motive appears to be to dissuade youngsters from joining the programme which is under Mr. Devananda’s ministry. There appears to be no personal animosity," a senior police officer told The Hindu.

According to sources, Kailainathan was shot dead around 12.40 p.m. just before he started have his lunch. "There were two others with him, but they were not in the room, when the gunmen struck," police said. Today’s killing marks a difference from the recent spate of internecine killing in eastern Ceylon, in which at least 200 people have been killed since last year’s revolt by the LTTE’s former special commander, V. Muralitharan (‘Col.’Karuna), as it targets a government official and is unrelated to the LTTE rebellion. According to police and Mr. Devananda’s Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) sources, the slain official "had nothing to do with politics."

The killing, defence analysts say, reflects the LTTE’s claim to "sole representation" of the Ceylon Tamils. The killing, against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the Ceylon Government and the LTTE to create a joint mechanism for post-Tsunami reconstruction in the affected villages on the eastern coastline, is also seen as the Tigers’ reiteration of the claim to "sole representation" of Sri Lankan Tamils. "It is a message to the government officials telling them to work under the LTTE’s control or to quit. This confirms the Tigers’ insistence on being treated as the ‘sole representative’ of the Sri Lankan Tamils," a senior political observer said.

The monitor International sustained minor injuries after diving for cover when the ship was attacked near the eastern port of Trincomalee, reports said. The Tigers deny attacking the vessel but say they returned fire. A cease-fire between the tigers and the government, in force sinceFebruary 2002, has been under growing strain. Peace talks between the Government and the rebels have been suspended since April 2003. The navy patrol boat was on a routine tour when the rebels shot "75 to 100 rounds of small arms fire" at it south-east of the main harbour of Trincomalee, military spokesman Daya Ratnayake said. The ship was flying with the Sri Lanka monitoring Mission flag indicating that monitors are on board when it came under attack, Helen Olafsdottir, spokeswoman for the European sponsored truce monitoring mission told the associated Press news agency.

It’s a very serious incident, we don’t take this lightly," she said. "But we can’t confirm that it was the LTTE until more investigations are conducted." She said only about 35 rounds had been fired. Military spokesman Daya Ratnayake told the AFP news agency that the attack was a serious breach of the truce between the Government and rebels. The BBC’s Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says similar incidents have happened in the past, but this attack is significant because the navy boat was carrying an international monitor and a large number of rounds were fired. The head of the Tamil Tiger’s political wing in Trincomalee has denied that the Tigers were involved in the incident, according to the pro-Tiger Tamilnet website. Last month, an attack on a top female Tamil tiger leader in Ceylon raised fears of a return to violence threatening a fragile three-year truce. The Norwegian-led peace monitors have expressed their concern over the rising violence.

Tamil tiger rebels have recruited 106 children into their ranks since the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami, in some cases taking young recruits directly from relief camps, the U.N. children’s agency said. Vergara said some of the new recruits had been taken from Tsunami relief camps in the Tamil-majority north and east of Ceylon-parts of which are under guerrilla control. Vergara said he wasn’t certain of their exact ages. UNICEF considers those under 18 to be Children. "We have been in touch with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) about the release of the children but we have not received any firm guarantees as yet," Vergara said.

There was no immediate response from the rebels, but the Tigers have repeatedly denied actively recruiting children, saying that any minor who joins their forces does so because of poverty or the loss of parents. In 2003, the rebels agreed with both UNICEF and the Sri Lankan government to discharge all child fighters to rehabilitation center, where they could receive care and counselling to help them rejoin society. But U.N. agency has accused the insurgents of reneging on their promise. Since the agreement, the rebels have recruited 1,892 children, Vergara said. Since the rebels signed a truce with the Sri Lankan government in 2002, more than 3,500 children have been enlisted by the insurgents, according to human rights groups. Children accounted for a staggering 40 percent, or 12,000, of Sri Lanka’s–Tsunami death toll of at least 31,000. Nearly 1 Million people have been left homeless.

Seven Tamil rebel fighters and a government official were killed in eastern Ceylon’s continued bloodletting in two separate incidents. While five of the rebels belonged to the Tamil National force to the (TNF), loyal to the former LTTE special commander, V. Muralitharan (‘Col.’ Karuna), at least two LTTE cadres were reportedly killed in the incident, which took place in the early hours of 16.04.2005. In a separate attack, suspected LTTE gunmen shot dead the divisional secretary of Tirukkovil, in the eastern Amparai district the same day. The Sri Lankan military spokesman, Daya Ratnayake, said that T. Thavarasa was shot dead with a 9 - mm pistol by "two persons who were on a bike." The LTTE has neither claimed nor commented on the incidents. The Sri Lankan military said the killing of the TNF cadres could be a possible "retaliatory strike" by the Tigers on the supporters of ‘Col.;’ Karuna. Acording to TNF sources, two of the Karuna loyalists were from the Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front, an ally of ‘Col.’ Karuna’s Tamil Eela Makkal Viduthalai Puligal. The LTTE has not commented on the incident. The killings took place at Siruvila in the north-central Polonnaruwa district, near Batticaloa-the erstwhile stronghold of ‘Col.’ Karuna.

The latest killings take the total death toll in the yearlong LTTE internecine bloodshed after last yea’s rebellion by ‘Col.’ Karuna past the 200-mark. As Thursday’s attack is a year after the LTTE overthrew ‘Col.’ Karuna’s forces from Batticaloa on April 12, 2004, following a three-day frontal assault. It is seen as a "commemorative event" and, hence, has not taken the Sri Lankan defence b surprise. "The clash between them is going on for more than a year; this is a continuation of the same thing in another form. They (the LTTE) want to show they are powerful," brig. Ratnayake, told The Hindu.

Tamil United Liberation Front Leader, V. Anandasangaree has said that the Tamils in Ceylon are not prepared to negotiate peace by subjugating to the LTTE whose track record has no parallel to any other similar organization in the world. In a letter handed over to US Assistant Secretary of State, Christiana Rocca and Norwegian Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, Anandasangaree says "I am not trying to disturb the peace process. I am not acting as anybody's agent either. I love my community more than my life and I like to see them free, enjoying all rights like any other persons in the south of Sri Lanka. I only want the international community to understand the ground situation in the North and the East and not to think only in terms of bringing back peace to the country by merely satisfying the LTTE"

Firing a salvo at the opposition and some sections of the government the, senior politician says "Sri Lanka's opposition party will not talk about these matters because they are hoping that the LTTE proxy, the 22 TNA members of Parliament will help them to topple the government and to form a new government. Some, on the government side also feel that by pleasing the LTTE the TNA's support can be got to stabilize itself to go thorough the full term. Either way it is the Tamils who are getting to suffer. It is the duty of the International community to prevent the Tamils from being made a sacrificial animal to the benefit of others". Making a plea for the Tamils Anandasangaree says "The Tamils who enjoyed all democratic and fundamental rights in government held areas are now deprived of all their rights and are weeping in silence being unable to show their opposition for fear of arms of the LTTE. Murders, arrests, detention, torture, conscriptions, extortion’s, taxation etc go on unabated. The two Sri Lankans holding British citizenship are lucky. The moment their detention and torture was brought to the notice of the British Authorities. They acted promptly and had them released. But, the poor Sri Lankan Tamils so detained are not that fortunate to have the intervention of any authority -local or foreign" TULF leader has requested America and Norway to consider the track record of the LTTE before pushing the government to set up a joint mechanism with the LTTE.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca says that the United States will be happy to engage the LTTE if the LTTE renounces violence in word and deed. She said that the American position regarding the LTTE has not changed and the US considers the organization as a terrorist organization unless they renounce violence, stop extra judicial killings, recruitment of child soldiers and stop building its military machine. However, Rocca said that the US is encouraging both the government and the LTTE to work together to help the people affected by Tsunami. When questioned about the US funds going to LTTE areas the Assistant Secretary said "Our money is committed through non-governmental organizations. We are not working with the LTTE but the government of Sri Lanka." 'The Island' newspaper wanted to know from the US official her country's views as the LTTE continued to ignore US condemnations and statements even though US is the only major power in the world today. The newspaper pointed out that US was fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq whilst issuing statements against the LTTE.

The US Assistant secretary had no clear answer to the question but to repeat the US position that the LTTE must renounce violence in word and deed. Rocca assured that the second Bush administration will continue the excellent relations built between the two countries, counter terrorism activities and trade and military relations. She expressed hope that there would be lasting peace in Ceylon and it would reduce the threat of terrorism. Assistant Secretary Rocca said that the US was fully supportive of the Norwegian peace efforts. She urged the government and the LTTE to return to peace talks. Rocca also added that the United States was concerned about the violence in the east. Speaking on the US support for Tsunami Rocca said that it remains a top priority for the US and the country would continue to engage in reconstruction efforts. She pointed out that there is a crucial need to ensure traditional shelter and she still saw coordination problems with the government and the LTTE. She was impressed with the progress of USAID and its partners in their efforts.

LTTE abducted two expatriate Tamils who visited their homeland recently. The story of one of them Rajasingham Jayathevan who was kidnapped and incarcerated with his colleague A.K. Vivekananda (AKV) is reproduced below:

"Our detention has been widely reported in the Sri Lankan media and some regional newspapers in London too covered the news. It is our position that we were held captive against our will and were not permitted to communicate at least with our immediate family members. The objective of our detention was to transfer a Hindu temple we were managing in London to a LTTE front charity namely "Sivayogam." Our lives were put at risk to execute LTTE’s irregular agenda and the LTTE gave scant regard to our sufferings during our captivity. I also became aware that it was also LTTE’s agenda to kill me following the transfer of the temple by using extra-judicial methods to circumvent violation of the international humanitarian law and the Geneva conventions. They had confirmed to my colleague AKV’s wife who went to Vanni to seek the release of her husband that:

1. With the view to circumvent the Geneva Convention they intend throwing a snake on me so that there won’t be evidence that LTTE killed me.
2. If plan one does not happen they will make me mentally incapacitated so that I will not remember of all what had happened to me in Vanni.

Luckily either of the above did not take place. I am ever so grateful for the kindness shown by the British government to put pressure on the LTTE for my release. Having gone through a painful experience, it is my position that these types of harassment and intimidation by the LTTE is brought to an end forthwith. I note that ICRC is in a unique position to help implement international standards in this regard in view of its involvement in the LTTE controlled areas. Therefore, I request you to use your good offices to get the LTTE abide by the international standards while people are taken into custody. They should report any arrest and / or detention to the ICRC within a specified time limit. The detainee also must have basic safeguards and access to the family and legal representation. If these standards are not strictly followed very many people will fall foul to the LTTE’s unacceptable conduct. While I was in custody, I came to know through the Tamil media that ICRC gave its approval to a newly established LTTE police interrogation centre in Vanni on the grounds that it meets all the required standards. It is with concern I note that there are many other detention centers in the LTTE controlled area where people are held captive and are being tortured.

In some cases people are detained indefinitely. The LTTE must be made accountable for its conduct and controls must be placed to safeguard human rights violations by the LTTE. I request the ICRC to facilitate a process to carry out an inspection of all these centers with the support of other international NGO’s such Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch etc. I note with regret that ICRC offices in Vanni are not informed about the arbitrary arrests and detention of persons by the LTTE. It is also important to note that one of ICRC offices in the LTTE area was stone throw away from where we were held captive. Our attempt to contact the said office by clandestine methods did not succeed due to circumstances prevailing there. This would confirm the dire need for procedural change for LTTE to report the details of captives under its control to the ICRC. I consider my experience, and sufferings of others in similar circumstances should not go in vain. If you need a detailed report from me of my experience please do not hesitate to contact me. I am also prepared to forward to you various news paper articles if you require in this regard."

Twenty eight-death anniversary of late Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayakam (1898-1977), prominent leader of the Tamil people for more than three decades of his life and fondly called as "Thanthai (Father)" was observed in Trincomalee, Jaffna and several parts of the northeast province. In Jaffna, parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and several leading citizens including religious dignitaries paid their homage to the leader by offering flowers and garlanding the statue of the leader in Chelva mausoleum. The event was presided by Rev. Dr. S Jebanesan, Emeritus Bishop of the Church of South India Diocese of Jaffna and attended by parliamentarians Mr. Mavai Senathirajah, Mr.M. Sivajilingam, Mr. S. Kanagaretnam, Ms. Padmini Sithamparanathan, in Trincomalee, Mr. K Thurairatnasingham, TNA parliamentarian garlanded the statue of Thanthai Chelva located in Sivankoviladi in the heart of east port town followed by several leading Tamil citizens including Attorney-at- Law Mr. K. Sivapalan, and Mr. A.H. Sahul Hameed. Mr. R. Sampathan, TNA parliamentary group leader offered flowers at the Chelva mausoleum.

Later a meeting followed presided by a leading Tamil writer Mr. Thirumalai Suntha, sources said. Even now after a two-decade-old war, the ruling party in power is dragging the issue of establishing an Interim self Governing Authority (ISGA) and the joint mechanism with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to rehabilitate and reconstruct the war- ravaged and Tsunami affected northeast province, he added. Mr. Sampanthan said the legitimate aspiration of Tamil speaking people in the northeast should be resolved effectively. The failure to do would cause immense damage to long term prosperity of Sri Lanka. The chauvinist rulers of the island have denied the democratic and human rights of the Tamil-speaking people since the country gained political independence he said. Attorney-at Law Mr. K. Sivapalan said the country could be saved from destruction only by resolving the problems of Tamil speaking people through a political solution fulfilling their legitimate political aspirations.

The Vaddukoddai convention of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was held following the abrogation of political agreements Mr. Chelvanayakam signed with two Sinhalese Prime Ministers, known as Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact and Dudley Senanayake - Chelvanayakam pact as an attempt to achieve legitimate aspirations of Tamil speaking in the northeast province through negotiations. Those agreements were abrogated due to the pressure of the Sinhala nationalist hard-liners. In 1949 Mr. Chelvanayakam at the inaugural event of the Federal declared, "we want a federal constitution made up of two linguistic provinces with a federal center at Colombo linguistic province will be its master in all internal matters." (Source Tamil Net)

Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front V. Anandasangaree is strongly opposing the joint mechanism the government is trying to enter in to with the LTTE. He says the LTTE is only trying to claim legitimacy over the north/east by the demand for a joint mechanism. Sangaree says it's unreasonable and it will not be acceptable not only to the Sinhalese and Muslims of the East but also for the Tamils of the two provinces. According to the TULF leader the claim that 60% coastal areas affected are under the control of the LTTE is also unacceptable and incorrect. "How can the LTTE try to enter in to a joint mechanism after depriving the victims from receiving aid from number of organizations?" Questions Sangaree.

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Anandasangaree also blames successive governments for giving the LTTE more opportunities to grab power almost in all parts of the northern and eastern parts of the country. He says they have done it for reasons best known to them. He warns that if the government sets up a joint mechanism with the LTTE it would amount to legitimizing all their unlawful acts and it would encourage them to commit more crimes. The veteran TULF leader poses three questions to the LTTE. Will the LTTE remove its iron curtain and allow everyone to reach any part of the territory under their control, as they are now allowed in government controlled areas? Will the LTTE with the setting up of a joint mechanism encourage a free print or electronic media to operate in the areas held by the government, leave alone their areas? As a pre - condition for setting up a joint mechanism will the LTTE withdraw from the areas held by the government and allow democracy to prevail in those areas?

The ruling party’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has said it was opposed to the proposed joint mechanism between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as the rebel group had neither given up its separatist agenda nor taken the path to democracy. "Without an assurance by the LTTE in word and deed" that it would end child recruitment, stop political killings, end abduction of rivals and pave the way for "free and fair elections in the north and east," the JVP "will not agree to any programme" with the Tigers, the JVP’s leader, Somawansa Amarasinghe, told a press conference here on Tuesday the 26^th of February. The JVP termed the proposed joint mechanism "a bridge" to a rebel demand for regional self – governance and held out a caution that the current path adopted by the international community would "pave way for a one-party rule, dictatorship and isolation of Tamil people in the north-east and another war." The JVP, Mr. Amarasinghe said, was opposed to the joint mechanism as the LTTE "is not democratic" and "does not represent any one in the country except their guns." The JVP) leader’s comments, his first public elaboration of the party’s position on the proposed joint mechanism is against the backdrop of efforts to from a body for post-Tsunami reconstruction for the affected north-eastern district, parts of which are under LTTE control.

In Sri Lanka, as we have pointed out, child combatants are put to a different use. They are used to break military defences at night during war so that fewer battle – hardened LTTE combatants will perish before battles proper begin. Of these unfortunate children, the report says, "Many are killed in combat, most are raped and sexually abused. Many are injured or permanently disabled and spend the rest of their lives in pain." In Ceylon, with drugs and brainwashing they are also turned into ‘children of fire’ who blindly blow themselves up. "This appalling abuse of girls’ rights demands urgent action. It is time to stop the war on children," Mr. Aaronson says. There’s the rub! While research into these children and informative reports filed on them are price worthy, there is little follow up action. All organizations include a global campaign to secure the release of these children. Apart from an occasional call urging the perpetrators to let go of them-which is never carried out, combating the menace of recruiting child soldiers is unfortunately limited to the publication of reports and discussions at various forums. The news that the UN was planning stern action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes kindled some hope in the hearts of child rights activists the world over. Among the measures suggested were travel restrictions and these would have made the front organizations and sympathizers of the terrorists groups robbing children take the UN’s concern about child soldiers seriously. But nothing of the sort has happened.

In May 1999 The Canadian Security Intelligence Service in its classified report to the Government of Canada had stated that Canada had become the LTTE’s largest foreign base for it’s operations, remitting over US $ 2 million annually to the LTTE for purchase of arms & ammunition. For this purpose various organizations had been formed to collect funds - World Tamil Movement (WTM) Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Tamil Eelam Society of Canada (TESC) etc. The Royal Canadian Mountain police (RCMP) had also discovered that many refugees from Ceylon arriving in Canada were members of the LTTE. The intelligence report had also stated that the Canadian Immigration and refugee Board had reliable evidence that affirm or strongly suggest that the TRO collects funds for weapons procurement.

The Toronto Police had also been aware of two LTTE factions, VVT and Kannan, being actively involved in underground activities. They had also discovered 9 mm machine guns, 12 bore Beretta guns and Winchester rifles at a filling station in Scarborough, which belonged to these LTTE factions. The VVT and Kannan factions have been involved in many assassinations, kidnappings, robberies, printing counterfeit note, bank frauds, credit card frauds etc. The LTTE had also formed two imports–export companies through which they fund themselves. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service claims that most funds raised under the banner of humanitarian organization such as the TRO are channelled to fund the LTTE war effort. The report had further stated that this terrorist organization (LTTE) had been responsible for the assassination of political leaders in India and Ceylon and that they have the most number of suicide bombers worldwide.

Steuart Bell, a journalist, had exposed that many Tamil organizations were funding the LTTE and also that the terrorists have made themselves at home in Canada and that they have been made welcome by opportunist politicians. The Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin, when he was Finance Minister along with Maria Minna, another Minister, had been hosted to a dinner by the Tamil organization. The Canadian Intelligence had requested them not to attend this function.

TULF leader V. Anandasangaree asked Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim a pointed question: "Even you, can you go into the LTTE areas without their permission? Can you breach their iron curtain?" Anandasangaree, who completed a short visit too India during the second week, in April confided this information to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) in New Delhi. In some off-the–shoulder remarks he made, the veteran Tamil politician, who is known to be a prime LTTE target, called upon New Delhi to play a proactive role to end what he said was "the growing strangle-hold" of the LTTE in Ceylon. Urging that it was time that the Indian Government stopped being indifferent to the Tiger menace in ceylon, Anandasangaree said: "The kind of international mediation that is going on in Sri Lanka is strengthening the LTTE. The international players are only helping the LTTE to get a foothold even in the government-held areas."

Warning that attempts to equate the Tigers with the Sri Lankan Government even in matters of Tsunami relief were fraught with great dangers, Anandasangaree warned, "This is the time for India to say ‘No’ to the ISGA and ‘No’ to any joint mechanism in Tsunami relief. "India has a moral duty to tell the Sri Lanka government that it is opposed to the ISGA. After all, India can never accept an independent Tamil Eelam state," he said. "We believe this is the best time to seek the support of the Indian Government to solve our problems. What we need is an Indian type devolution. We don’t need anything more."

Anandasangaree had hinted to IANS that although his visit last was a personal one, he had used it to meet senior members of the Indian Government. The report said that Anandasangaree made clear that he favoured Indian military intervention, like that of the IPKF of 1987 and he has said this to Western diplomats, too. The TULF leader expressed view that Norway, in particular, and the Western countries, in general, are underestimating the dangers posed by the LTTE and did not realize that ordinary Tamil people were sick and tired of living in areas under LTTE control. "What Tamils need today is not (an) ISGA, not a joint mechanism for Tsunami relief. What they need is liberation from the LTTE. What they need is a right to live without fear of the LTTE. "The peace process cannot go on and on at the cost of the ordinary Tamil people. I told this to Erik Solheim also."

EPDP leader Douglas Devananda told Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim that he had intelligence reports that the LTTE had plans to bump him off using two explosive-laden vehicles. Devananda had asked Solheim to take note of this information, an EPDP news release said. In the course of a detailed briefing, Devananda told Solheim that the LTTE has intensified the killing of members of his organization, supporters, political opponents of the Tigers, public servants and ordinary people. Devananda has also briefed Solheim on differences between the LTTE factions and alleged that the tigers have once again begun a killing spree to divert the minds of the people.

Devananda claimed that members of his party were increasingly targeted because they were active in Tsunami relief and other work valued by the public for which hey have won the people’s trust and goodwill. Devananda also said that the people of the north and east had to bear government and LTTE taxes. While there was reason for the government to levy taxes from its citizens for providing services, the LTTE which levied high taxes did nothing for the people except suppress them. The EPDP leader alleged that the LTTE exaggerated their Tsunami relief work. The Tigers were defrauding the government by presenting false bills and receipts to the Government Agents and getting themselves reimbursed for twice and three times the value they have supposedly spent on Tsunami relief.

He said that government officials were threatened with death and goods meant for Tsunami relief taken by force. They have also falsified lists of Tsunami affected people by padding them with additional names and getting relief on that basis. They also make a charge of Rs. 2 per kilo on the rations the people receive from the government. Devananda alleged that the LTTE sent their supporters and stooges to throw stones at army camps and sentry points and they have begun to attack some sentry points in attempts to provoke the forces to retaliate so that they could claim they have been attacked by the military.

Sri Lankan Airforce head quarters has said that they were in the process of educating troops on ways to identify LTTE aircraft. This follows the recent report that Jaffna based troops had observed an LTTE fixed wings aircraft flying over the Kilaly area. Following the sighting the Airforce had interviewed two personnel who claimed to have observed the aircraft shortly after the sound of artillery or mortar fire behind the LTTE front-line. Group Captain L.H.A. Silva said they were in the process of educating ground troops deployed in the northern and eastern province. Army headquarters said that Israel-built Unmanned Aerial Vehicles had spotted the aircrafts on different occasions during recent air surveys.

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