Don't obstruct people seeking safety - a message to LTTE

[Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 10.00 GMT]

The Sri Lankan Army has requested the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the Red Cross to ask the LTTE to allow free passage to civilians coming from uncleared areas to safety in government controlled areas using the A15 route.  

Civilians in large numbers are now reported to be leaving the LTTE-controlled areas of Vakarai and its surroundings and moving to the safety of Government held areas, due to the adverse security situation in
the Vakarai area. Most of them come to Kajuwatte, Marnkerny and Riditenna areas on the A 15 - Trincomalee- Batticaloa route, which is most convenient for them, the Army said.  

These people trek through nearly 20 km of jungle because the LTTE obstructs their coming to on the A 15 to government controlled areas. Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said the Government had to make this request through the SLMM and the Red Cross considering the danger of traveling through the jungle due to prevailing rain and the bad weather conditions in the area, and LTTE mortar attacks on the people who traveled on this route on 19th December.

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: December 21, 2006 -10.00 GMT