SLA embargo on cement, fuel to Muttur east still continues -Elilan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 May 2005, 14:45 GMT]
"It is meaningless to speak of a negotiated political solution and the proposed joint mechanism at a time when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is still continuing the embargo on the transportation of cement, fuel and building materials to the LTTE held Muttur east in the Trincomalee district to rebuild tsunami destroyed coastal villages," said Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He was speaking as a guest at an event held Saturday morning at Sampoor in the Muttur east in connection with the opening of the new building of an Agrarians Services Centre constructed under the Asian Development bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project.

Mr.Elilan unveiled the name board and declared open the building by cutting the ribbon, TamilNet sources said.

Mr. Elilan further said following the protest by Muttur east villagers against the embargo, about ten days ago, North East Governor announced that the ban imposed by the army on the transportation of building and other related materials was removed. The Governor further said the Defence Ministry Secretary had informed him that there was no such ban.

"However, the SLA is still continuing the embargo not only on building materials but also on transporting diesel for tractors, barbed wire and petrol for sprayers which are used for agricultural purposes despite NE Governor's statement. NGOs are also prevented from transporting cement to Muttur east for rebuilding houses in the tsunami affected coastal areas," said Mr.Elilan.

NECORD Project Director Mr.T.Lankanesan, NECORD Deputy Project Director Mr.R.Umakanthan, and Mr.Ravichandran, Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services also attended the event.