New security regulations in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula has declared that people who enter the areas it controls would not be allowed to bring more than 25 coconuts with them. The new regulations came into effect from Saturday, said sources.

The SLA has put up posters about the new regulation by it's sentry points at Varani, Eluthumadduval, Mirusuvil, Palai Thmpakamam road, said the sources, adding that the regulation is said to have been introduced for "security reasons".

Two youths, Vaikuntham Thanushkaran, 23 and Sebastiampillai Ameed of Eluthumadduval in the Thenmaradchi sector were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on Saturday during a search operation there, and are reported to be detained in Eluthumadduval SLA camp, said the sources.

Residents reported that there have been a series of search operations in the region during the past week, said the sources.

A young woman, identified as Mano Mylvaganam, 20 was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in Thumpalai in Pt. Pedro in the Jaffna peninsula on June 25. She is believed to be detained at the SLA's Pt. Pedro harbour camp, said sources.

Her sister had been arrested earlier on suspicion that she had been in the Police force which operated in Jaffna under the LTTE administration, however the SLA had released her later, they said.

The SLA has announced that people should not gather in the Old town area of Pt. Pedro after 6.00 p.m., said sources, adding that the reason for the regulation is not clear.

Elsewhere in the Jaffna peninsula, the SLA cordoned off and searched villages of Chempiyanpattu, Kudarappu and Thanippanai in the Vadamaradchi east region, from the early hours of the morning Saturday till 9.00 a.m. Sunday, said sources, but they could not confirm whether any arrests were made.

A 19 year old girl, Rasenthiram Kumutha, was arrested by the SLA during a house-to-house search operation in Kudaththanai, also in the Vadamaradchi east region on Saturday, but was released after interrogation, they said.