SLA soldiers dishonor GA permits at checkpoint -TNA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 November 2005, 18:08 GMT]
Soldiers manning the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoints at Kaddaiparichchan and Mahindapura in Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division are not honoring permits issued by the Trincomalee Government Agent to non-governmental organizations and other agencies to take building materials to LTTE held areas to implement approved reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, said Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian in a letter faxed to President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday.

Residents have complained of SLA soldiers preventing tractor loads of gravel from being taken to LTTE held villages for road development works, said Mr.Thurairatnasingham in his letter.

The ceasefire agreement entered into by the then government in power and the LTTE has now become a piece of paper in the Trincomalee district, the letter said.

Restrictions on the transportation of essential food items such as eggs, fuel for domestic and agricultural purposes to the LTTE held areas have also been tightened.

The agricultural activities in these villages have come to a halt, as the farmers are unable to plough their lands due to shortage of diesel for tractors, Mr.Thurairatnasingham pointed out to the President.

"Therefore I appeal to you to intervene and take appropriate steps to alleviate the sufferings of the civilians in the LTTE held areas in running their day to day lives and their agricultural and development activities without interruption," said Mr.Thurairatnasingham.