Journalists travelling west of Batticaloa lagoon say Tiger presence is all pervasive with new LTTE cemeteries established in many places for martyred cadre as a theatrical symbol of their dominance. Local LTTE officials have ignored Colombo s change of time zone in May leaving the region one hour behind the rest of the country. In late July, the Tigers setup their own police force led by former Chavakachcheri police chief Krishnakumar. The region s rich rice lands make it a potential stronghold though the landscape is currently racked by drought. On the contested coastal strip, the Army rules by day, the Tigers by night.
Casual killings proliferate.
Udayakumar, brother of ruling SLFP Batticaloa organiser Ganeshamoorthy was shot dead at Kaluwanchikudy on 6 July. A day earlier TULF MP Selvarajah escaped unhurt in an attack on his home. One person was killed and several injured. Both attacks were attributed to the Tigers. The Tigers keep the Polonnaruwa road, the only real link to the rest of the country, under constant pressure.