The high cost of the continued confrontation between the government and LTTE, and the resort to the military option, has become clearer in recent days. The previous weeks saw the government utilizing the military to inflict substantial losses o­n the LTTE especially in the east. The National Peace Council condemned the sufferings inflicted o­n the civilian population, particularly o­n account of enforced displacement and blocking of humanitarian relief. o­n the other hand, the past few days have seen high costs inflicted o­n the government in the battle at Muhamalai, and by LTTE attacks at Dambulla and Galle which are far from the north east conflict zones.