July 20, 2006: The government gave security forces "shoot-to-kill" orders. This allows police and troops at check points to open fire at vehicles that do not stop when ordered to. This is to protect police from suicide bombers, or simply stop LTTE gunmen trying to attack, or simply trying to blow past a roadblock. Police have also been ordered to arrest members of LTTE dissident factions, if caught with weapons. This is in response to continued LTTE charges that the army is supplying LTTE dissidents with weapons.
Since December, growing violence has left nearly 900 dead. While both sides say they are maintaining the ceasefire, peace talks are on hold, and the LTTE is using force to try and keep army patrols from observing rebel activities. The rebels are believed to be drilling their troops in tactics to be used during a resumption of large scale warfare.
July 19, 2006: In the northeast, two LTTE bombs left three dead and 13 wounded. The rebels are attacking military patrols, trying to intimidate the soldiers into staying out of areas the LTTE wants to use for preparing larger military operations. Efforts by European peace brokers, to revive peace talks, continue to fail.
July 18, 2006: LTTE violence in the northeast left three dead and 13 wounded.
July 15, 2006: In the last few days, at least two dozen people have been killed in LTTE violence. The rebels are attacking army patrols in the east, and two thirds of the dead have been soldiers and police.