Prices spiral due to SLA restrictions in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 June 2007, 08:18 GMT]
Traders Union and Production Sector Union in Vavuniyaa handed memoranda to Government Agent Vavuniyaa Friday complaining against the recent Sri Lanka Army (SLA) restrictions placed on lorries transporting goods between north and south. Traders in Vavuniyaa and the south have to unload their lorries at Eeratperiyaku'lam SLA check-post on the southern boundary of Vavuniyaa and transfer the goods to another set of lorries. Extra time, labor and money involved in this arrangement have caused prices of goods to rise both in Vavuniyaa and the south, the traders informed.

This new SLA restriction introduced from June 1 has very much affected traders, lorry owners, rice mills, they added.

Vavuniyaa police said that the new check post now being constructed at Eeratperiyaku'lam will begin functioning next week.

Southern lorries will unload at this check-post for inspection and the lorries from Vavuniyaa will transport the unloaded goods to Vavuniyaa. The same rule applies to lorries with goods bound south, the police added.

The memorandum to Vavuniyaa Government Agent requests the immediate removal of the restriction.

The new SLA restriction was introduced following the discovery of a lorry loaded with explosives in Kurunagala, the police said.