Further details of Vanni crossing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 1999, 14:47 GMT]
Five hundred stranded travellers from the Vanni who are currently housed in the 'Kolikoodu' transit camp in Vavuniya will be in the first batch allowed to return to the LTTE controlled areas on Monday, said officials in the northern town of Vavuniya.

Of the ten lorries of food that will be allowed to pass through, three lorries will be sent to Mannar, three to Kilinochchi and four to Mullaithivu, they said.

Civilians who are returning to the Vanni will be checked at Kokkuveli, 3 km. north of Vavuniya town along the A9 trunk road.

After checking they will be taken in buses to the furthermost forward defence lines in Mankulam and then allowed to enter the LTTE controlled areas.

Civilians who are coming into Vavuniya will be brought to Kokkuveli after checking at the Mankulam entrance following which they will be issued with temporary residential passes by the Police, sources added.

Trucks carrying foodstuff will be stopped at the cross loading point, south of the Mankulam entry point, goods will be unloaded for checking and the lorries will be sent away for the lorries which are coming from the LTTE area to load the goods.

Vavuniya lorries will return to Vavuniya empty and the Vanni lorries will return to their places with the loaded foodstuff, said sources.