LTTE urges ICRC to restore opening days of Vavuniya entry point

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 August 2007, 06:52 GMT]
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Thursday discussed the operation of the only entry/exit point between the LTTE controlled Vanni and GoSL controlled Vavuniya town. LTTE officials said they had asked the ICRC to keep the Oamanthai checkpoint open for seven days a week to enable the people of Vanni to get provisions and other commodities uninterrupted.

The request was made when LTTE representatives met Toon Vandenhove, Sri Lankan Country Director of ICRC and Katya Lawrence, the resident Representative of ICRC in Kilinochchi.

LTTE's Deputy Political Head S. Thangan and LTTE's NGO and U.N. Liaison Officer M. Pavarasan made the request, handing over a letter to the ICRC counrty director to facilitate opening days of the Oamanthai entry/exit point. The meeting took place at Hotel Tank View from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The LTTE delegation explained the shortcomings faced by the people of Kilinochchi, Mullaiththeevu, Mannar and Vavuniya North regions who use this route, which is open only three days a week in the recent months, causing hardships to the people in acquiring essential supplies and access to medical facilities at the hospitals situated in Sri Lanka Army controlled areas.



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