SLA closes all gateways to LTTE controlled Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Saturday evening closed all the entry points to and from LTTE controlled areas in Batticaloa District, with the exception of the A-15 highway which links Trincomalee and Batticaloa, sources in Batticaloa said. All civilian traffic has been blocked, said sources.

Civilians travelling to hospitals in Government-controlled areas in Batticaloa have been stopped and farmers taking their produce to markets in the east were also prevented.

More than 30 thousand residents in 60 Rural Officer Divisions in Batticaloa, face a humanitarian crises as the ferry services at Kurumanvely, Ambilanthurai and Manmunai and the boat services in Kinnayady and Santhively have been forced to stop and the roads through Chenkalady Black Bridge, Vavunathivu and Paddiruppu Bridges have also been closed.