Another 1,000 civilians ferried to Trincomalee

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: The Security Forces yesterday too carried out its humanitarian mission of transporting civilians who have been strand due to the closure of the Jaffna-Kandy road from Omanthai and Muhamalai by transporting another 1000 civilians from Vavuniya to Kankesanthurai.

Navy Spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake told the Daily News that 1000 civilians who were stranded in the Vavuniya were taken to Trincomalee in 20 State buses to be transported from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai.

"They were scheduled to be transported by the Navy chartered vessel 'Jet Liner' by last evening", the spokesman added.

Closure of the A-9 road following continuous LTTE attacks using artillery as well as mortars caused those civilians to remain in Vavuniya for many days, presuming the road would be open soon after the cessation of hostilities.

On the return journey the 'Jet Liner' will transport another 1300 civilians from the Jaffna peninsula to Trincomalee.

The Navy following the ICRC's refusal to escort civilian ferries from Kankesanturai to Trincomalee carried out this humanitarian mission on several occasions by transporting 3206 civilians stranded in Jaffna to Trincomalee. "We are engaged in this task by providing special security for these vessels due to LTTE threats", Commander Dassanayake added.

Apart from this the Navy is providing security for the vessels transporting food stocks to the Jaffna peninsula, he added.