Goods flow through A9

Forty lorries permitted to travel a day

Army escort for convoys

Essentials include rice, sugar, dhal, oil

Rafik JALALDEEN

Around 35 lorries belonging to private traders transporting essential items to the North through the A9 Road left Medawachchiya yesterday morning.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said 35 lorries of private traders have left from Medawachchiya check point carrying essential items to the North on the A9 Road after a lapse of several years.

“These lorries were carrying essential items such as rice, sugar, dhal, oil etc for the Northerners”, he added. He asserted that every three days around 40 lorries will be allowed to transport essential items to the North via the A9 Road.

“Though many private traders have submitted applications to obtain permission to transport goods to the North via the A9 Road, only 40 lorries will be permitted to travel a day”, he added.

The convoy will be escorted by the Army until it reaches the North. “The lorries carrying essential items will be allowed after a thorough search at the Medawachchiya check point”, he remarked.

The traders can bring agricultural harvest of the North on their return journey to the South, the Brigadier said.