A5 reopens after seven years

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 July 2002, 06:55 GMT]
The forty-kilometre stretch of road on the A5 highway from Chenkaladi to Maha Oya which goes through territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers has been opened to the public after seven years. The opening ceremony was held near Karuththapalam Monday morning around 10.30, attended by senior LTTE officials and Sri Lanka Army officers.

Batticaloa district Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Major General Sunil Tennekon, Mr. Karikalan, Special head of the political section of the LTTE for Batticaloa and Ampara districts, Mr. Visu, head of the political section of the LTTE for Batticaloa and Ampara districts and Mr. Ali Zahir

Mowlana, former district parliamentarian and presently the advisor to the Ministry of Policy Planning and Implementation attended the event.

The Sri Lankan security forces have established two checkpoints, one at Chenkaladi and the other at Pullumalai. The LTTE has established two checkpoints, one at Kalikamadu near Chenkaladi and the second at Pullumalai.

Sources said that the road is opened for twenty four hours without any restriction. Several bus depots have commenced their services to Batticaloa, Ampara, Badulla and other areas from Monday, sources said. The A5 runs from Batticaloa to Badulla.