Police check Jaffna videos

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The police have imposed new regulations on the sending of video cassettes out of Jaffna, one of the few items still allowed to be airmailed out of Jaffna to other parts of Sri Lanka.

The usual practice has been for the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to check the contents of the tapes at the post office before sealing the package, ready to be air freighted out of Jaffna.

It is however the duty of the police to accompany such baggage from the post office to the airport where it is loaded on to the aircraft.

The police have now demanded that they be allowed to inspect the items before the packages are sealed and transported to the airport.

The new regulations, in place for the past two weeks, have not allowed video cassettes without the police seal to be transported to the airport, said sources.

Video and audio cassettes have been among the few items the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) allowed to be air freighted out of Jaffna.

It is a concession that is enjoyed to the full by Jaffna residents who video events such as weddings and family gatherings and send the tapes to their relatives overseas.