Government yesterday dispatched a consignment of food and medical supplies for the benefit of civilians in Mullaitivu on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“The tug with the first consignment of food items will leave Trincomalee harbour probably in the midnight,” said Commissioner of General for Essential Services, S. Divaratna speaking at a media briefing held at the Presidential Secretariat last evening.

The Commissioner said his office has requested the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to allocate two tugs that can carry 50 metric tons at time, to transport food items and medical supplies to Mullaitivu from Trincomalee. In addition, MV Green Ocean, the passenger ferry allocated to the ICRC by the government will be utilized for sending 150 metric tons of food items on its each return trip from Trincomalee. The ICRC has been using the passenger ferry to transport sick and wounded civilians from Mullaitivu to the Trincomalee government hospital since last week. The ICRC has agreed to sail the tugs and the passenger ferry with the food consignment under its flag.

"We are sending nearly 50 metric tons of flour, dhal, milk food, and sugar plus medicine provided by the Ministry of Health with the first consignment. The operation will be continued and the second consignment is scheduled be sent on 19th this month", he added.

He further said the government has not been able to send food consignments to Mullaitivu since January 29 as the security situation did not permit safe passage to the food convoys. However he said that, he has so far received no reports on any acute food shortage in the Mullaitivu district from the Government Agents since the government had already sent about 600 metric tons of food in the last convoy.

"Also, we have maintained a buffer stock there, still we have to find an alternative route to provide food for the IDPs since the road transportation is impossible".

The Commissioner General emphasized that these food are sent by the government, by the government means and the process will be continued until the road access is made possible to the no fire zone.

Once the food supplies reach Mullaitivu, the government agents are to take over the consignment and to distribute it among the IDPs through cooperative societies.