A9 reopens, prices of fuel, food increase

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 April 2006, 12:23 GMT]


A9 highway was announced open Thursday morning. However, the prizes for fuel and other critical items have gone up as people had begun purchasing items for storage fearing a long term closure of A9, sources from Jaffna said.



Government Agent Jaffna District, Mr. K. Ganesh convened a special conference at the Jaffna Secretariat Wednesday morning with the heads of all government departments to explore possibilities of meeting the critical situation in the Jaffna peninsula caused by Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) sudden and unannounced closure of all land routes to the peninsula, said officials in Jaffna Secretariat.

Officials of the Chunnakam Electricity plant which generates and supplies electricity to the Jafnna district pointed out that the fuel in stock will hold only for four days, added the sources.

Jaffna Electricity Board decided to enforce a limited supply of electricity from Thursday between 5 a.m. to 6 a.m, 10 a.m.to 12 noon noon, and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the conference.

The SLA closure of the land route to Jaffna peninsula has completely grounded to a halt the supply of fuel, and severe shortage of essential food items is expected in a couple of days, according to the participants in the conference.

While traders try hold on their stocks and people are engaged in a buying spree, the heads of departments explored means of stretching the stock in hand to manage the oncoming crisis.

Medical authorities in the peninsula had expressed their grave concern about the impending shortage of essential medical supplies. Mr. Ganesh and the heads of departments said that neither the GoSL or the SLA have taken any constructive steps to meet the critical situation, informed the officials in the Jaffna Secretariet.