US ambassador visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2000, 16:32 GMT]
The US ambassador for Sri Lanka, Ashley Wills, held discussions Friday with the Government Agent (GA) for Vavuniya about the situation in the border town and about the conditions obtaining in the Vanni. Officials at the Vavuniya Kachcheri said that the US ambassador had keenly ascertained the ground realities in the region, particularly regarding food and medical supplies to the Vanni during his hour long meeting with the GA, K.Ganesh.

The ambassador had also met with aid organisations operating in the Vanni. He visited the Human Rights Commission office in Vavuniya town as well. A western aid organisation source said that the US ambassador was on a routine familiarization visit.

The Sri Lankan government has imposed severe restrictions on the supply of essential food and medical supplies to the Vanni region which is controlled by the Liberation Tigers. Lifting the embargo on essential food and medical supplies is necessary to create a conducive climate for peace talks, the Tigers say. Colombo claims that a quantum of essential medical and food supplies are sent regularly to the Vanni.

This is disputed by aid workers in the region who say that even drugs permitted by the Ministry of Defence have not been sent to hospitals there.