ICRC ready to support 24-hour A9 opening

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 January 2003, 12:34 GMT]
If requested by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is willing to support the opening of the A9 highway for 24 hours a day, Danique Lugi, ICRC Director of Communications, said today.

ICRC held a press briefing in its Jaffna Head quarters to explain to journalists and reporters on the functions of the ICRC in the changing climate towards peace in Sri Lanka. Andrew Smith, Expert in artificial limbs and other ICRC officials participated in the briefing, sources said.

"If the Jaffna-Kandy road (A9) is open for 24-hours that will ease the burden on travellers immensely. We are fully prepared to assist in this matter. ICRC will not be an impediment to the opening of A9 during Sundays. Also, authorities must make every effort to provide electricity to areas in Jaffna that currently do not have electricity," Lugi said.

He added that the issue of High Security Zone (HSZ) is a matter that has military and political implications and therefore ICRC cannot take a stand