2ND LEAD (ADDS DETAILS)

SLA blocks medicines, nutritious food supplies to children, at Omanthai

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 November 2008, 08:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Oamanthai entry point turned the supply lorries away on Thursday, for the third consecutive time, refusing entry for medical supplies and nutritious food (Thriposha) for children in the Mullaiththeevu Regional Director of Health office on Thursday, according to medial sources of the district. One lorry with Thriposha was returned on 05 November and 06 November, and another lorry with medicines was refused entry on 23 October, 24 October and on 06 November.

The consignment was allocated for the third quarter of 2008. The supplies were not allowed to be taken beyond Oamanthai by the SLA since July, the sources added.

According to the same sources, the normal practice is they get the Ministry of Defence (MoD) clearance to transport medicine beyond Oamanthai annually, but in the recent times the SLA has demanded fresh clearance at Oamanthai on every single trip.

One of the supply lorries was carrying medicines to cure malaria. Medicines for children, medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and anti-biotic drugs were also in the supply lorry that was turned away by the SLA. The medicines are urgently needed in hospitals of Mullaiththeevu district.