Army orders to close down dispensary

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army ordered that the government medical dispensary at Amban in Vadamaradchi east should closed from 12 noon today. Residents said that this is the only medical facility available for thousands of civilians in this large southeastern coastal region of Jaffna. The army is not present in this region.

The army which used to regularly patrol the area earlier has stopped doing so following attacks by the LTTE. And two attempts by the SLA this year to move into the region were thwarted by the Tigers.

The SLA has increased pressure on the region by banning or limiting the supply of many essential items to this region.

And from March 15, persons between the ages of 16 and 40 have been banned from entering Vadamaradchi east through the only entry point kept open by the army for the movement of civilians at Vallipuram.

Government servants who have to travel regularly to Vadamaradchi east have been ordered to obtain new special passes from the army.

SLA has also blocked the reopening of the Uduththurai Mahaviththiyalayam which currently functions in Aliyawalai. The SLA told education dept. officials in Jaffna that the school cannot be reopened due to security reasons.