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May 01 in Mullivaaikal
On May 1, significant developments and intensified violence marked the situation in the final stages of the conflict. The Sri Lankan government acknowledged that its military had shelled areas designated as “No Fire Zones,” which had previously been declared safe for Tamil civilians. This admission followed the emergence of satellite imagery showing extensive crater damage consistent with heavy artillery strikes. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona confirmed that shelling had taken place, contradicting earlier official denials. However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa continued to reject claims that heavy weapons were used against civilian areas, highlighting inconsistencies within the government’s narrative.
On the ground, civilians faced escalating violence. Following a night of heavy shelling on April 30, approximately 200 civilians sheltering in Mullivaikkal were rushed to hospital with injuries. The bombardment resulted in dozens of civilian deaths, underscoring the severe humanitarian impact despite the area being designated as a place of safety.
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