The Colombo government which pursued a military agenda causing the displacement of people in the east, now, works on another agenda. Due to the war unleashed in the east, about two hundred thousand people were displaced from the east. They had to leave their homes, their properties, lose all their earnings and be refugees in camps.

The price hike of the essential commodities has caused many problems to the people. It has led to the increase of cost of living. Even people with guaranteed income are unable to cope up with the price hike and the increase in the cost of living.

The refugees in the Batticaloa district face numerous problems and the welfare organizations find it very difficult to provide basic facilities to the refugees. According to the statistics collected at the beginning of this month, 139,000 displaced people live in refugee camps or with their relatives and friends in their houses.

The appointment of All Party Representatives’ Group by the British House of Commons to go into the question of Lankan affairs and the visit of Richard Boucher, the US State Minister for South and Central Asian Affairs, to Sri Lanka is the latest development in Sri Lankan national conflict.

Once again petroleum cooperation has increased the fuel price. This is the third increase of the price of fuel during in the last 6 weeks. Aantha De Mel, the Chairman of the Petroleum Corporation has indicated that there can be some more increase to follow in the future.

The extremist forces in the south are perturbed over the concern shown by the international community regarding the human rights violations in the country. Following Britain, America has also expressed serious concern over the serious human rights violations in the country.

There is anxiety among parents and teachers about the future of their children, since the education in the north-east is adversely affected by the prevailing situation. As far as the east is concerned, the students are unable to pursue their studies due to the existing situation. More than 150,000 people are displaced following the war situation in Batticaloa.

5 months have rolled by since the abduction of Sivasubrmanium Ravindranath, Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University, in Colombo. There has been no response, whatsoever to the appeals made by his family members, educationists and human rights activists to release him. There has been no progress in the investigations conducted by the police.

The United National Party, in its statement released to the Press states that after every military action against the LTTE, the Defence Ministry and the media stated that the military strength of the LTTE had been crushed. But, the reality today is that they have become stronger. They have demonstrated to the world that they are the only terrorist organization in the world that has an air force.

The debate in the British in the House of Commons regarding the Lankan affairs has created a stir in the south. During the adjournment session of the Parliament, Wimal Weerawansa, warned Britain not to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka and to keep off. He charged that Britain has always tried the strategy of divide and rule. That is why we have an ethnic problem in the country.

Sri Lankan government has announced that it is not going to participate at the proposed summit talks in Britain to bring about good will and understanding among the warring parties in Sri Lanka.

The cost of living is once again escalates. As a result the people face many economic problems. Since cost of living shoots up, while there is no corresponding increase in their income, people are unable to bear the burden.