New regulations on rations announced

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 February 1999, 19:26 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army's 52-4 brigade headquarters in Jaffna ordered that fishermen's families in villages on the South-eastern coast of Jaffna who have any family members or immediate relatives living abroad should not be given relief rations.

This was revealed at the monthly co-ordination meeting organised by the Maruthankerni Divisional Secretary yesterday.

Fishermen who have lost their livelihood due to army restrictions in Vadamaradchi east receive relief rations from the government.

The SLA believes that the Liberation Tigers operating on the southeastern coast of the peninsula derive their sustenance from the largely fishing population in the dozen villages which lie in areas here that are not under the control of the army.

The army regularly imposes restrictions on the supply of essentials foodstuffs and medicines to this area for this reason.

Meanwhile the SLA has placed restrictions on the agricultural produce that farmers can take out of the Maasaar, Soranpattu and Puthukkaadu areas of the Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna for sale.

The army also limits the number of coconuts people can take to markets in the Thenmaradchi towns of Palai and Chavakachcheri.

Farmers in these parts lament that the army restrictions have put them in double difficulty because they are denied agricultural subsidies that are available to cultivators in other parts of Jaffna.