SLA, SLN restrictions in Jaffna peninsula imposed again

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 January 2010, 04:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) which had relaxed their various restrictions in Jaffna peninsula prior to president election have begun to impose them again actively, sources in Jaffna said. These restrictions include the checking of passengers travelling within the peninsula and to the islets of Jaffna besides access to their places in the SLA High Security Zones (HSZs), they said. People of Ezhuthumadduvaa’l in Thenmaraadchi who were told by Minister Douglas Devananda and SLA officials that they would be permitted to resettle in their places immediately after the presidential election were turned back when they tried to go to their homes Friday.

In the peninsula, SLA soldiers make people to alight from their vehicles at main junctions and some important places in Jaffna town and subject them to checking.

While, people travelling to the islets are allowed to proceed only after being checked at Allaippiddi, a practice which had been temporarily suspended prior to the presidential election.

SLN has set up a new check post in Pungkudutheevu.

Persons going to Nainaatheevu and Nedunththeevu have to submit their National Identity Cards (NIC) at Kurrikkadduvaan jetty before embarking on their journey.

Meanwhile, the areas in HSZs where people had been promised of resettlement by ministers and SLA officials with much publicity just before the presidential election are now out of bounds for public.

Areas in Ezhuthumadduvaa’l South and the outskirts of Valikaamam North are some of the places where the displaced are not allowed to resettle.

Some residents who had been permitted to clean up their homes in the villages of A’rukampanai, Keerimalai, Pannaalai and Kollankaladdi are not allowed to spend the night in their houses. They have to get back to the places where they were living as displaced people.

SLA has closed the road connecting Mahajana College and Union College in Thellippazhai and people have to use circuitous roads to reach their destinations.

Similarly, people allowed to resettle in some parts of Ezuthumadduvaa’l have to go through hamlets to their houses as they are not allowed to use A9 route at Mirusuvil junction by the SLA.

The restrictions which had been suspended temporarily prior to the presidential election are now being gradually imposed again, the sources said.

SLA soldiers are actively engaged in checking persons travelling and at some places police personnel are checking them, since Thursday.