SLA stops building materials getting into LTTE held villages

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 October 2004, 10:57 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has completely stopped the transportation of building materials such as cement, steel and timber through Muhamalai check point to the villages of Pallai, Iyakkahchi, Maruthankerni, Thalaiyadi, Vembadi, Mamunai and Kaddaikadu, which are located in the LTTE, controlled areas. The SLA's unilateral action has seriously disrupted all development and construction work undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the war-torn villages, civil sources said.

Earlier the SLA issued permits on limited basis to transport cement and other building construction materials on the recommendation of the respective Divisional Secretary.

Now the SLA authorities have imposed a new condition that people who want to take building construction materials to these villages should produce recommendation letter from the Government Agent (GA). However they are not bound to accept all recommendation letters of thd GA, SLA has clearly told the institutions related to the construction activities, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Government Agent has said he will not sign any recommendation letter in this regard. Non-governmental agencies and other related institutions should get such letters from the respective Divisional Secretary, according district secretariat sources.