SLA imposes unofficial restrictions on Thenmaraadchi residents

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 October 2008, 17:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has imposed restrictions on the residents in Thenmaraadchi against buying food provisions in large quantities or to stock them from Sunday, following instructions from the Ministry of Defence, sources in Jaffna said. SLA authorities suspect that the people of Thenmaraadchi are providing food to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eazham (LTTE) combatants who had infiltrated into Thenmaraadchi.

SLA soldiers have warned the shop keepers in Kaithadi, Naavatku'li and Ma'ravanpilavu in Thenmaraadchi including Charasaalay, Manthuvil not to sell food supplies in large quantities to consumers and that the traders will be punished if found violating the directives.

The people of the affected areas are generally poor and there are not many shops in their areas either. Also the residents of these villages have to go long distances to buy their food provisions, and transport facilities are not easily available.

Many families in these areas have lost their livelihoods due to SLA harassment and violence, and the newly imposed restrictions have worsened their woes, residents of Thenmaraadchi said.