There are currently 22,450 refugees in six camps, including 9,170 in Poonthottam and 7,780 in Sithamparapuram. Many among the refugees have spent over four years in the camps. The government provides Rs 35 for an adult per day and Rs 20 for a child. Although the money is given every 15 days, there was no payment in February and the refugees can afford only one frugal meal a day. Some families are accommodated in shelters outside the main camp.
Refugees say the camps are cramped and the roofs leak during rains.
The situation is becoming worse as more refugees arrive in Vavuniya from the LTTE-held Vanni. The refugees complained to press reporters from Colombo in late February that the camps are managed more like prisons. Although the security forces claim that 12-hour passes are issued, camp residents say that they are allowed only four hours outside camps. Students were earlier given weekly permits to attend school, but now they are expected to obtain permits every day. Poonthottam camp residents K Pushpanathan and S Ramakrishnan were wounded when they were attacked by police on 28 January.