Military registers civilian movement

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 March 1999, 22:07 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has told civilians who are coming from Iranai Iluppaikulam that they should register their names with the military officials on duty in the area through the Grama Sevaka Officer, residents of the area said.

They will then be given an authorised document that should be shown to Army and Police checkpoints when they are travelling to and from Vavuniya.

Security forces personnel taking part in 'Operation Rana Gossa' recently moved into a large area west of the A9, including the junction town of Iranai Iluppaikulam.

The route which the Iranai Iluppaikulam junction sits on is important in linking the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni to Army controlled areas. Following the operation the security forces are able to control the movement and people into and out of the LTTE areas.

Civilians in the area also said that an unofficial curfew had been imposed from 5pm to 6am. Military officials have advised the civilians not to move about at night.

Government officials said that refugees who had been placed in the Puthiya Valayankaddu area have been shifted to the Kovilpuliyankulam school building, that is located south east of Iranai Iluppaikulam.

Sources said that arrangements are underway to provide tarpaulin to construct temporary sheds in the area.