Uyilankulam checkpoint closure leaves civilians stranded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 April 1999, 18:28 GMT]
More than four thousand civilians from the Liberation Tigers controlled parts of the Vanni who had passed through the Uyilankulam SLA point before it was closed on April 18 are now stranded in Vavuniya and Mannar.

The majority of these had come to spend a few days in the two towns to buy provisions and goods. Now they are in dire straits as they have run out of all the cash they brought with them said a Kachcheri official in Vavuniya today.

The stranded civilians are also facing problems in getting stay permits in Vavuniya and Mannar town from the SLA and the Police sources said.

About 250 of these in Mannar town have been allowed to return through Uyilankulam by the SLA today. This permission was secured on an appeal by the Bishop of Mannar who went to the LTTE controlled areas today.

Meanwhile sources at the Dept.of Health in Mannar said that the SLA granted permission to the MOH on a special directive by the Vanni Security Forces Commander Major Gen. Lionel Balagalle to pass through Uyilankulam this morning for vaccinating children in Vellankulam, Adampan, Illuppaikkadavai and Vidaththaltheevu.