SLA celebrates "Ki'linochchi victory" in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 January 2009, 13:29 GMT]
As part of the elaborate arrangements Sri Lanka Army (SLA) command is organizing in Jaffna district to celebrate the SLA occupation of Ki'linochchi, residents of Vadamaraadchi towns and villages were transported to Nelliadi junction Saturday in private vans, to participate in the victory celebrations, sources in Jaffna said.

SLA troopers travelled around in trucks and announced the residents to assemble in nearby SLA camps, before trucking the residents to Nelliadi junction. SLA confiscated the National identity card of many to force them to come to the SLA camps, according to residents.

Residents were allowed to return home after the large numbers of spectators assembled were video recorded while SLA staged events celebrating its military victory.

Meanwhile, traders of Thenmaraadchi lit fire-crackers on the direction of SLA command, as part of victory celebrations. SLA had warned the traders of dire consequences to their businesses if they failed to participate in the celebrations.

Civilian households along the A9 highway from Kaithadi to Kodikaamam were also directed by the SLA to fly the Sri Lanka national flag.