Batticaloa Chapel Road opens after 12 years

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 November 2002, 05:31 GMT]
Chapel Road in Batticaloa district which was closed for traffic last twelve years was opened yesterday morning by soldiers from the SriLanka Army (SLA), sources said.

Chapel road which has the entrance to the Batticaloa Main Post Office was closed for traffic in 1990 as a security measure for its 23-3 brigade head quarters located close to the road.

Students, workers and civilians endured severe hardships to gain access to Vincent Girls High School, Methodist Central College, the Post Office, Manmunai North Pradeshya Sabai and Education Commission building which were all located on Chapel road.

The opening of the road was the result of an agreement arrived at the Sub-Committee meeting held in Vavunathivu last week when the Security forces and Liberation Tigers agreedto open affected roads in phases. Residents point out that several roads still remain closed.

Although security forces are removing the barriers and and speed bumps located in the vicinity of many Police stations and army camps in the Batticaloa-Valaichenai road, sources confirmed traffic barriers and speed bumps near Eravur Police station and Valaichenai Police station still remain.