Wheat lorries in SLA service

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 November 1999, 16:02 GMT]
The commandeering by the Sri Lanka Army of privately owned lorries without prior notice has resulted in a strike by drivers and cleaners transporting wheat flour produced at the Chinabay Prima Milling Complex in Trincomalee to the rest of the country has brought supplies to a complete standstill since November 12.

The United Transport Employees Welfare Society has demanded that lorries transporting wheat flour should not be commandeered by the SLA in future.

The Society has further requested that all lorries commandeered by the SLA so far to be returned immediately. The society further said that in future if the SLA wanted to use the lorries, they should be taken over legally and not forcibly.

The society has complained that that several lorries were commandeered in the past by the SLA without informing the owners and families of the drivers and cleaners.

According to the society, the whereabouts of some of the lorries taken over by the SLA were not known. In some instances, drivers were assaulted, abused and ill-treated in the process, the society said.

Due to the strike, and shortage of trucks, food department sources said that Colombo and its suburbs are faced with a flour shortage.