Vehicle pass system re-introduced in Vavuniya, Mannar

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 October 2006, 16:39 GMT]
A "Pass" system for all vehicles leaving the districts of Mannar and Vavuniya to rest of Sri Lanka has come into effect from Friday. Vehicles have to obtain passes from police stations in Vavuniya, Chettikulam and Mannar before leaving to outstations, civil sources said. However vehicles moving between Mannar and Vavuniya are exempted from the pass procedures, sources said.

Passengers travelling in state buses and private vehicles are subjected to severe checks, their baggage are meticulously examined and their names and other details such as documents related to the ownership of vehicles are registered at the respective police check points before they are allowed to proceed out of the districts, sources said.

The pass system that was in force in these districts before the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the Sri Lankan government and LTTE.

The system was withdrawn later when the Supreme Court upheld a fundamental rights application by two residents of Sithambarapuram in Vavuniya that the restriction had violated their fundamental rights.

Chronology: