2ND LEAD (Correction)

Third group awaits sea-journey to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 01:52 GMT]
Vavuniya district Secretariat have made arrangements to send the third group of civilians stranded in Vavuniya and Mannar to Jaffna in ship from Trincomalee harbor on Wednesday, officials said. The Jaffna bound passengers had left Jaffna before 11 August on personal business and were unable return due to the closure of A9 land route.



Nearly one thousand civilians who had registered in Vavuniya and Mannar were first taken to the Gamini Mahavidyalayam playground from District Secretariat where they were subjected to thorough checking by Police and home guards.

The civilians were then taken to Trincomalee Tuesday, civil society sources in Vavuniya said.

The passengers were allowed to take 20 kg of food items.

Strict regulations were imposed by the Secretariat on passengers carrying cell phones, officials said.