by Manjula Fernando

The LTTE has cleared the Kandy-Jaffna A9 highway up to Paranthan in keeping to their part of the responsibility to demine and re-open the route up to Jaffna for civilian transport.

The International Committee of Red Cross spokesman Arjuna Ranawana told the Daily News that the LTTE has informed of the opening of the route up to Paranthan to the ICRC.

Under the historic Ceasefire Agreement between the Government and the LTTE, both parties agreed to demine the route as a good will gesture and facilitate civilian and goods transport to the North via land.

On February 6, Government forces and the LTTE began de-mining the route from Omanthai, 10 kilometres North of Vavunia under the supervision of the ICRC. The road was opened up to Kilinochchi on February 15.

The Ceasefire Agreement signed by the two parties on February 22 has given a time frame for the LTTE to complete de-mining the route up to Jaffna.