General shut down paralyzes normal life in Trinco

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 05:09 GMT]
Tamil speaking people observed a general shut down in Trincomalee town and its suburbs, Wednesday, putting forward 8 demands, including the immediate removal of the unlawfully erected Buddha statue in the vicinity of the central bus terminal, about five months, and to lift the military occupation of the town since then. Tamil civil groups in the east port town issued the general shut down call.

All government departments, provincial council offices, state and private sector banks, business establishments of Tamils and Muslims, offices of international and national non-governmental organizations, were closed down, as majority of employees did not report for work. Schools of all media were closed down, as students did not attend classes. Some shops in Sinhalese areas were seen opened, TamilNet sources sources said.

State bus services came to a complete halt. Private buses owned by Sinhalese were seen at the private bus stand. However, the bus terminals were deserted without commuters, sources said.

The general market of the Trincomalee urban Council, which is dominated by Sinhalese traders, was seen deserted although vendors were seen in their stalls, sources said.

Additional Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and riot police squads are kept in readiness to quell any disturbances during general shut down, police sources said.