SLA re-opens Varani road

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 July 2002, 18:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka army re-opened the main road through Varani in Jaffna this week. The SLA was encamped in the heart of the village, astride the Kodikamam - Pt. Pedro Road, occupying private property in the area, including many homes. Varani residents who were evicted from their homes and properties by the SLA wrote to Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe after he signed the Cease-fire Agreement with the Liberation Tigers, urging him to open the road and return the village centre to them.

Commuters on the Kodikamam- Pt. Pedro Road had to take a sandy detour at Varani, skirting the SLA camp in the village centre.

The road was opened following renewed appeals by residents to Mr. Austin Fernando, during his visit to Jaffna last weekend, sources said.

The village centre, the 'Amma kadai' neighbourhood, with its private properties and homes still remains in the hands of the SLA, they said.

Meanwhile, education officials in Jaffna said that the SLA has indicated that it is ready to vacate the Sarasaalai Saraswathie Vidyalayam (school), near Chavakachcheri in Jaffna. The Sri Lanka military occupied the school two years ago.

TamilNet