A9 SLA checkpoint closed at Omantai, hundreds stranded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 11:06 GMT]
Sudden, unannounced closure of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point on the A9 highway at Omantai from Tuesday 3.30 p.m has caused severe hardships to the public who were in the middle of travel from Jaffna to the South, or in the other direction. Sri Lanka Government officials have also been badly affected by the suspension of travel facilities to Jaffna district and Vanni, said civil society sources in Vavuniya.

Unannounced closure of the highway at Omantai by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), around eighty persons including government servants who went on duty to Vanni are unable to return while hundreds of resettled families near Omanthai are trapped within, unable to move out, added sources.

Many who were on their way to Vanni gathered in protest at the Vavuniya Government Secretariat seeking permission from the Additional government Agent Ms. Charles.

Vavuniya officials were unable to intervene as the matter was a security issue. However, the people remain in the precincts of the Vavuniya government Secretariat, said the sources.

Meanwhile, Sinhala youths and girls on excursions to Jaffna district and the Vanni are held up unable to return to the South, said sources.