The Sri Lanka Navy has set up Citizens Committee Meetings in the Island of Kayts with the intention of providing a platform for the people in the area to voice their concerns. The inaugural meeting held on the 23rd of May 2006 was well attended by over 750 citizens of Kayts, Pungudathive and Mandathive. Senior citizens, religious leaders, government officials, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and UNHCR officials chaired the meeting.

These meetings have proved to be a confidence building measure amongst civilians regarding their safety, and also as a means of obtaining assistance to get on with their normal day to day life. Modalities were also worked out to help civilians return to their homes at the earliest. This has resulted in a number of families returning to their homes on their own.

During the Citizens Committee Meetings it was evident that the majority of civilians were appreciative of the role played by the Sri Lanka Navy as well as by Government officials. They were especially full of praise for the prompt action taken by the Sri Lanka Navy to control the fires on the 13th of May 2006, which prevented many properties being destroyed.

The Kayts Island has been subjected to increased LTTE terrorist attacks since December 2005, where many incidents of claymore attacks on SLN troops and killing of civilians took place.

The State Intelligence Service Chief as late as on 6th May 2006, warned of the presence of LTTE cadres and armed civilians (Makkal Padai) preparing for attacks on Sri Lanka Navy troops. Further on the 10th of May 2006, posters were put up by LTTE Makkal Padai groups to observe a Hartal and close shops, and through fear, civilians shut down their business establishments.

The LTTE continued its provocative acts through claymore attacks on Sri Lanka Navy troops in the Kayts Island indicating the LTTE’s presence in guise of civilians, terrorising the civilian population and posing threats to Sri Lanka Navy deployments. Such acts against civilians are invariably aimed at bringing disrepute to the Sri Lanka Navy in particular and to distance the civilians from Government forces in general.

Ground intelligence has revealed that LTTE backed organizations / individuals are forcing the civilians in Allaipiddy area to vacate their houses.

The Sri Lanka Navy, in addition to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is conducting its own investigations into the incidents of 13th May 2006 while continuing to maintain a close dialogue with the Citizens Committee and providing required security to achieve normalcy at the earliest.