New restrictions on Batticaloa traffic

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
All lorries from Batticaloa to Colombo will be detained for 24 hours at Manampittiya and will be released to proceed to Colombo only after vehicles are searched by the Sri Lankan Army and the Police. This new rule came to effect last Friday.

Large number of lorries carrying fish and other perishable gods from Batticaloa to Colombo will be greatly affected by the new regulations.

However, the Police claim that the lorries connected to recent bomb explosions in the south had originated from Batticaloa.

Several concerned lorry owners met Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Batticaloa MP, today and complained about the new restrictions on commercial traffic.

Mr. Pararajasingham has told the lorry owners that he will take up the matter with the government soon.