The LTTE has forcibly closed the water supply from the Mawilaru Anicut (irrigation channel) to the Seruwila, Muttur and Ichalampattu areas in the Trincomalee District, preventing the flow of water that sustains approximately 15,000 families and feeds approximately 30,000 acres of paddy land. The LTTE has prevented the irrigation department from opening the sluice gate. In addition, the LTTE has prevented the SLMM from having access to the location and blocked efforts by the SLMM to facilitate restoration of the water supply.

The people in these villages depend on the supply from the Mawilaru Anicut for drinking purposes and for agriculture. Without this water, the paddy which is now close to maturing will be irretrievably lost. The LTTE’s forcible closure of this water supply in an area until recently controlled by the Government, is a hostile act committed against the civilian population in contravention of the Ceasefire Agreement. This act by the LTTE contravenes norms of civilized behaviour and is in violation of international law.

Under Protocol I to the Geneva Convention, “It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works, for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive.” [Protocol I, Geneva Convention (1977), Article 54(2)].

It has been clearly accepted under the rules of international law that attacks on water resources and the denial of water to civilian populations constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is noted that under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which substantially reflects international law, the relevant article states that “intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects” is defined as a war crime [Article 8, 2(b) (ii)].