Govt complains of LTTE disinformation on Jaffna access

SWITZERLAND: The Government on Sunday accused the LTTE of spreading "disinformation" about humanitarian supplies for the northern Jaffna Peninsula.

The LTTE had not given essential security guarantees needed to allow humanitarian convoys to reach the area by sea, the consulate-general of Sri Lanka in Switzerland said in a statement.

The consulate said its attention "has been drawn to disinformation spread by the LTTE with regard to the supply of food and other essential items in the Jaffna peninsula".

"The Government had requested the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) to flag regular ship convoys to deliver food and other essential goods to the Jaffna peninsula," the statement said.

"However, over the last several months the LTTE has refused to grant security guarantees for such convoys," it added.

The Government said it had managed to supply 18,000 tonnes of food to the Jaffna peninsula.

It said it was also allowing the UN World Food Programme and the ICRC to deliver supplies in Batticaloa and Vakarai. AFP