Yala sanctuary to be closed again

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 January 2008, 10:46 GMT]
Yala sanctuary in the southern province is likely to be closed down for tourists again with the drop of foreign tourists following claymore explosions and attack that took place recently. The Yala sanctuary was re-opened in the beginning of January this year after several months' closure due to violence. Meanwhile more than eight thousand soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army are reported to have been deployed in about 12 villages in the Moneragala district to curb the movement of armed groups in the jungle area.

The Sri Lankan armed forces have been put on red alert following reports that some armed men were seen in the estates in Yatiayantota, Deraniyagala and Avissawella areas.

In the meantime four Tamils arrested at Thanamanwila in Moneragala division were remanded till February 4 by the Embilipitya Magistrate. They were taken into custody by the security forces in a cordon and search operation following the claymore explosion in the area. All the suspects are residents of Badulla and had been working in Thanamanwila assisting Sinhala cultivators in their chena cultivation.

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