SLMM member denied entry to tsunami event

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 December 2005, 17:07 GMT]
Soldiers manning the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point Monday morning refused permission for a woman monitor of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Mannar to attend the one year tsunami remembrance religious event held at Madhu church in the LTTE held area, sources said.

Woman monitor in her official vehicle with her driver traveled through Madawachchiya-Mannar main road to enter Madhu church area at the invitation of the organizers of the Tsunami remembrance prayers.

Soldiers refused permission to the event as she was not in possession of written permission of the Ministry of Defense, sources said.

The SLMM member returned to her office without participating in tsunami religious observance in Madhu church, sources said.