SLN arrests 200 civilians fleeing from Jaffna to Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 2009, 16:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers arrested Monday around 200 civilians fleeing war from Vadamaraadchi East areas earlier held by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to LTTE held Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, in their fishing boats by sea route, sources in Jaffna said. The arrested civilians have been brought to areas in Jaffna peninsula under control of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the government officials are facing a critical situation as no prior arrangement has been made to shelter these refugees, sources close to Jaffna Secretariat said. Meanwhile, the Deputy Ambassador for Britain in Colombo made a sudden visit to Jaffna Monday where he met Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh and key SLA officials, the sources added.

The visiting Deputy Ambassador who met Jaffna GA Monday around 3:00 p.m. and inquired about the situation of refugees coming into Jaffna peninsula from LTTE held areas. He paid particular attention to the future plans for the refugees’ welfare, places of shelter and basic needs, the GA said.

Meanwhile, SLA is continually engaged in forcibly displacing a number of families from areas like Iyakkachchi and Pa’lai, earlier held by LTTE, to Chaavakachcheari and Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi, sources in Jaffna said.

No prior arrangements have been made to place these civilians moved from their villages by the SLA, the sources added.

The people in Vadamaraadchi East and in areas like Iyakkachchi and Pa'lai were displaced due to the advance attempts by SLA from Naakarkoayil towards Vettilaikkea'ni, the sources further said.

Around 100 civilians who had earlier fled war in Vadamaraadchi East have been placed in a makeshift refugee camp in one of the teacher trainee hostels in Koappaay Government Teachers' Training College.

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