Supply convoy crosses into Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 December 1999, 16:22 GMT]
A convoy of trucks carrying medicine, question papers, mail bags and non-food relief for the displaced people in Madhu, crossed into the Vanni areas held by the Liberation Tigers today, through the Pramanalankulam, Periya Thampanai and Periya Pandivirichchan route, said officials in Vavuniya.

Harsha Gunawardene the spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Colombo said that the ICRC escorted the convoy through the new access land route, on the request of the SLA and the LTTE.

The bodies of two civilians, killed in Mannar district on December 2, were also sent from Vavuniya hospital in an ambulance of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to Madhu with their relatives, said sources.

Officials said 3 lorry load of medicine intended for government hospitals in the Vanni, 175 bags containing 2nd batch of question papers and stationery for the GCE O/L Examination to the candidates in the areas held by the LTTE and 300 mail bags were sent in the convoy.

A United Nations lorry took non food items to the people who have sought refuge in Madhu, said aid workers.

This first crossing of an overland convoy took place today after a period of over a month, after the SLA and the LTTE agreed on the opening of a new access route to the Vanni, said Harsha Gunawardene the spokesman for the ICRC.

Aid workers say they are confident that movement of food and patients to the Vanni will also start shortly.