Jaffna SLA commander meets civil representatives

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 September 2004, 15:27 GMT]
Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Jaffna area commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday said during a discussion he had with the representatives of the People's Committee for Peace and Goodwill (PCPG) in Jaffna district that he is taking every possible step to open A9 highway from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The discussion that commenced around 10 a.m. lasted for two hours and was held in Jaffna Bishop's House.

Major General Tennekoon further said he is in contact with Jaffna resident representative of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the extension of operational time of A9 highway.

He added that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has provided 24-hour power supply to Muhamalai checkpoints, sources said.

Major Tennekoon said members of the security forces are discharging their duties with deidication to restore normalcy in the lives of Jaffna people.

He said he is disturbed that some incidents had taken place to harm the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said resettlement inside high security zones cannot be implemented immediately and that it should take place in steps.

Jaffna Bishop Rt.Rev Thomas Soundaranayagam, PCPG President Mr.D.R.Arumainayagam, Secretary Mr.S.P.Paramanathan, Rev.Fr.J.P.S.Selvarajah and Rev.Fr F.J.Bernard, Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor C.Mohanadas, Jaffna Chamber of Commerce President Mr.E.Jeyasekaram and Dr.V.Thiagarajah participated in the discussion.

Major General W.P.L.Fernando and Jaffna Senior Superintendent of Police Daya Seneviratne participated in the discussion with Major General Sunil Tennekoon.