SLA bans reconstruction of Point Pedro Post Office

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 September 2003, 01:23 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army has ordered that the Point Pedro Post office located close to the 52-4 brigade headquarters of the SLA cannot be reconstructed, saying that it falls under the High Security Zone, sources in Point Pedro said.

As some funds have been allocated for the reconstruction of the Post office, civil administrators requested permission from the SLA to reopen the road leading to the Post office and to start its reconstruction, but the SLA’s denial has frustrated their plans, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Point Pedro Multi-Purpose Cooperative Union’s head office is operating close to the SLA’s 52-4 brigade headquarters. Employees and the public are allowed to visit the office only after intrusive body checks and other harassment, which cause great difficulties to them, civil sources said.

In the Katkovalam area, the Sri Lankan Armed forces have commandeered a fisherman’s boat worth Rs. 100,000 for their own use, and the heavy-handed action has deprived the livelihood of not only the owner of the boat, but also 15 other fishermen in the area who fear harassment by the Armed forces.