Colombo snaps outside communication with Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 July 2008, 15:52 GMT]
Sri Lankan Telecommunication Department has cut off the telephone numbers with +9421228 format (Ki'linochchi lines) for the last few days, disabling the only available mode of communication to the outside world from Vanni at a time when more than 100,000 civilians have displaced in Ki'inochchi and Mullaiththeevu districts due to the Sri Lanka Army offensive. Fundamental services such as hospitals, civil services and media dependent on telephone communication have been severely affected, according to civil sources in Ki'linochchi.

Around 500 lines were operating in Ki'linochchi, covering hospitals, government offices, NGOs, local organisations and other agencies serving civilians.

The Deputy Planning Director of Poonakari division, S. Vimalakumar, who was slain last Friday in a Claymore attack allegedly carried out by a Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit, was carrying documents that were to be faxed from Vavuniyaa as telecommunication facilities were cut off, government officials in Ki'inochchi said.

Financial transactions in the branches of the banks have been paralyzed.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless phones and cellular telephone services have been disrupted also in Mannaar, Vavuniyaa and Jaffna districts.