Sri Lanka: Information on the current situation in Mannar mainland, including on whether the area is under the government control or that of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LKA20016.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sri Lanka: Information on the current situation in Mannar mainland, including on whether the area is under the government control or that of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), 1 March 1995, LKA20016.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba3a4.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a December 1994 report in The Sri Lanka Monitor, "most of Mannar mainland is in [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] LTTE hands while the military controls Mannar Island" (2). This information was corroborated by a representative of the London-based Tamil Information Centre (TIC) during a 9 March 1995 telephone interview.
The most recent reports obtained by the DIRB indicate that the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE have signed a truce accord, which went into effect on 8 January 1995 (AFP 3 Feb. 1995; AFP 26 Jan. 1995). Under this truce, "only unarmed LTTE cadres could enter government-controlled areas in the east." (AFP 26 Jan. 1995). Information on how this accord will affect the Mannar mainland could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, for information on the situation in 1993 and 1994 in the Mannar district, including the Mannar mainland, please refer to the attachments, especially the December 1994 report in The Sri Lanka Monitor on Mannar.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 January 1995. "Suspected Tamil Rebel Strangles, Truce Holds in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. December 1994. No. 83. "Frontline Mannar."
Tamil Information Centre (TIC), London. 9 March 1995. Telephone interview with a representative.
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 February 1995. "Tigers Set Up New Camps Amid Truce." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 January 1995. "Suspected Tamil Rebel Strangled, Truce Holds in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
_____. 15 August 1994. Anosh Ahamath. "Massive Security Cover for Sri Lanka Polls." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 March 1993. "Tamil Guerrillas Seize 18 Moslem Fishermen." (NEXIS)
Asia Watch. 11 August 1993. Asia Watch: Halt Repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamils. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 8-10, 13-15.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 8 March 1993. "Army Claims Military Successes Against LTTE." (NEXIS)
Canadian High Commission, Colombo. 15 April 1994, pp. 5-6.. (Memo to the Director, International Migration, External Affairs and International Trade Canada)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 22 September 1994. BC Cycle. "Sporadic Incidents Shatters Chances of Peace in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
Jane's Intelligence Review Pointer. 1 October 1994. "Tamil Rebels Hope to Force Ceasefire Before Talks Begin." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. April 1991. Vol. 37, No. 4. "Sri Lanka: Intensification of Violence," p. 38152.
Lankapuvath [Colombo, in English]. 15 April 1993. "One Officer, 4 Soldiers Killed in Mannar." (FBIS-NES-93-074 20 Apr. 1993, p. 59)
_____. 9 April 1993. "Four LTTE Bases in Mannar District Destroyed." (FBIS-NES-93-068 12 Apr. 1993, p. 73)
_____. 2 March 1993. "`Heavy LTTE Losses' in Mannar Air Raids." (FBIS-NES-93-039 1 Mar. 1993, p. 57)
Reuters. 12 August 1994. BC Cycle. "At Least 57 Rebels, Soldiers Die in Polls Violence." (NEXIS)
_____. 11 March 1994. BC Cycle. "Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Kill Nine and Wound 25." (NEXIS)
The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. January 1995. No. 84. "Feud in Mannar," p. 2.
_____. December 1994. No. 83. "Frontline Mannar," p. 2.
_____. April 1994. No. 75. "Mannar Advance," p. 2.
_____. December 1993. No. 71. "Marooned in Mannar," p. 2.
_____. August 1993. No. 67. "Mannar Retreat," p. 3.
_____. July 1993. No. 66. "No Man's Land," p. 4.
Tamil Information [London]. November/December 1994. No. 40/41. "Repeat Clash in Mannar," p. 7.
_____. November/December 1994. No. 40/41. "Skirmish in Mannar," p. 7.
_____. September/October 1994. No. 38-39. "Vessels Hijacked at Sea," p. 6.
_____. September/October 1994. No. 38-39. "Navy Loses Vessel," p. 6.
_____. September/October 1994. No. 38-39. "Attack in Mannar," p. 6.
_____. September/October 1994. No. 38-39. "Troop Rampage," p. 7.
_____. September/October 1994. No. 38-39. "Fishermen Killed by Navy," p. 8.
University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR), Jaffna. 15 November 1993. Report 12. A Sovereign Will to Self-Destruct: The Continuing Saga of Dislocation & Disintegration. Jaffna: UTHR, pp. 3-4.
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 27 September 1993. "Government Troops Launch Offensive in North Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)