Journalists to watch travellers return

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 July 1999, 16:26 GMT]
Vavuniya kacheri officials were busy this morning making arrangements to send back about 2200 civilians from the LTTE controlled areas of the Vanni who have been stranded in Vavuniya since last month.

It is thought the civilians will be sent in 23 buses through the SLA's foward defence lines (FDL) at Moonrumurippu and Nattanhkandal, north-west of Vavuniya.

People being searched by women Police officers before boarding buses taking them back to the Vanni.

The stranded travellers thronged the Vavuniya kacheri premises this morning to get their names on the list of people to be sent today.

The assistance of the ICRC has been sought for the transfer of the civilians and the LTTE has also been notified.

Meanwhile military officials in Vavuniya said that a group of journalists from Colombo will witness the safe return of the civilians across the FDL's later today.

Parents with children struggle on to a lorry for the 35km journey to the Moondrumurippu - Naddankandal forward defence lines of the SLA. Though buses were provided, people board lorries carrying their possessions.




K.Ganesh the Vavuniya Government Agent briefs journalists brought on a military conducted tour to his office.S.Ragunathapillai, the Additional Government Agent in Vavuniya is on his right.