Curfew lifted for 4 hours, no stocks of rice, wheat flour, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 12:03 GMT]
Stocks of rice, wheat flour and sugar have gone empty in private shops in Vadamaradchi and Valikamam sectors of Jaffna where curfew was lifted for 4 hours Thursday, when family members separated since last Friday due to the curfew were able to re-join. 300 meter long queues were seen in front of medical shops. No fuel was available. Curfew was lifted between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Valikamam and from noon till 4:00 p.m. in Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi, according to the announcement from Palaly military base. Curfew was not lifted in Jaffna Islets where residents were forced to bury more than 30 bodies as the region remains under Sri Lankan curfew continuously for 7 days.

The price of a coconut has gone up from 50 Sri Lankan Rupees to 250 rupees and the price of one kilogram green chilli pepper has risen from SLR 10 to 50.

No fuel is available. Electricity remains cut. Telephone lines are not working.

Scarcity of rice, flour, meat, fish and fruits has made the life of daily wage workers difficult although the Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) shops are struggling to distribute rations.

The Government Agent of Jaffna, K. Ganesh, has urged the authorities in Colombo to arrange for immediate transport of 5000 MT basic supplies to Jaffna district.