Work underway on new route to Vanni

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 July 1999, 11:58 GMT]
Arrangements are underway to open a new supply route to the areas held by the LTTE said Mr.K.Ganesh, the Government Agent of Vavuniya. A team of four government officials comprising GA Vavuniya, Mr.S.Ragunathapillai, the Additional GA Vavuniya, and S. Sri Skandarajah, the Project Engineer at the Vavuniya Kachcheri and a technical officer visited Mankulam yesterday to inspect the proposed site for 'cross loading', sources said.

Supply lorries unload their goods for checking by SLA at a site specified by the SLA close to the entry point to the LTTE controlled parts of the Vanni. The unloaded commodities are then reloaded onto vehicles from the LTTE held areas of the Vanni. The process is carried out vise versa as well. This is generally referred to as 'cross loading'.

Govt.officials in Vavuniya decided to visit the Mankulam area after the Liberation Tigers had agreed in principle to open an alternative route to the areas held by them in the Vanni, sources said.

Vavuniya Kachcheri officials said that the Tigers had notified their assent through the ICRC two days ago.

The Vavuniya GA, Mr.Ganesh, said that they are awaiting confirmation from the LTTE to start the construction work on the gateway at Mankulam for supplies between the army and LTTE held areas of the Vanni.

He further said that it is expected to take another week for finalising the arrangements and start the transport of people and the food

supply.

Meanwhile, sources said that T.Rasanayagam, the Government Agent of Kilinochchi is held up in the Vanni and hence will not be able to attend a series of important government top level meetings beginning tomorrow.

Sources also said that S.Tharmakulasingam, the Mullaithivu GA is already in Colombo. He had been held up there because the road to the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni has been closed since June 26.

The LTTE is yet to state anything officially on the matter.