President directs authorities to ensure adequate food supplies,
goods for Jaffna Peninsula
COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed the relevant
Government authorities spearheaded by the Commissioner General of
Essential Services (CGES) to take all possible steps to ensure adequate
supplies of food and other goods for the use of civilians in the Jaffna
peninsula.
Since A9 could not be used for transport of goods to Jaffna due to
the prevailing security situation, the Government has been using sea
transport for transport of essential food items as well as fuel.
The Government has maintained a steady supply of goods to Jaffna,
despite inclement weather, threats to private traders to close shops and
attacks on ships carrying humanitarian goods and people.
All these have led to scarcities of certain commodities available to
the people of Jaffna, states a Presidential Secretariat press release.
Having reviewed the situation, and having considered representations
made by religious, community and people's representatives and as
inclement weather is likely to continue in the next few weeks, the
President has directed Government authorities to make arrangements for
the transport of essential goods to Jaffna by road using the A9, as a
one time measure.
Soon, a large convoy of lorries will take essential commodities to
Jaffna. The Government will request independent organisations to
facilitate the movement of the convoy of lorries through the checkpoints
at Omanthai and Muhamalai.
Lorries transporting goods to Jaffna will be sealed and once the
lorries reach Jaffna the seals will be opened in the presence of
representatives of civilian and religious organizations and Government
authorities.
All relevant parties will be requested to ensure safe passage of
these lorries carrying humanitarian goods. Distribution of these
transported goods will also be observed by people's organisations.
In order to ensure that a satisfactory buffer stock of goods and
other essential commodities is maintained in Jaffna under the
supervision of the Government Agent/District Secretary of Jaffna, a
large fleet of lorries will have to transport adequate supplies to
Jaffna.
These lorries will have to be made available to the CGES as early as
possible. Therefore, a public appeal is hereby made to all those who
could provide lorries for this purpose to make them available to the
office of the CGES through telephone offers.
International humanitarian organisations too are requested to offer
their assistance to the supply of humanitarian goods to the Jaffna
Peninsula so that sufficient buffer stocks of all items necessary for
the people of Jaffna could be ensured. Whilst this will help meet the
needs of the people it will also build confidence among the people.
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