SLA checking, harassment on the rise in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 October 2003, 16:08 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army in Batticaloa has increased its checking of civilians. People traveling in vehicles, including motorcycles or bicycles, are stopped, asked to alight from their vehicles, and their vehicles and personal belongings are checked thoroughly, sources in Batticaloa said.

Those traveling through the Vavunathivu SLA checkpoint to Batticaloa town are asked to register their national identity card number and vehicle number, and to open their belongings for checking. People complain about such harassment at a time of peace, and say they are unable to attend their offices or business on time.

The most affected are the government employees who cannot attend their offices on time due to excessive delays at the checkpoint.