Large scale checking of vehicles in Jaffna by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 November 2006, 01:05 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) carried out a large scale road checking and monitoring operation at the entry points of all major roads to Jaffna Municipal limits from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, civil sources said.

Large number of soldiers at entry points of Kankesanthurai road, Palaly road, Manipay road, Point Pedro road and A9 Kandy road stopped all vehicles entering to Jaffna- public busses, mini busses, vans, auto trishaws, cars, motorbikes and bicycles- ordered the passengers to get down and thoroughly checked the persons and the vehicles, civil sources said.

At several junctions people had to wait nearly an hour to pass a checkpoint, according to sources.

SLA also carried out checking inside Jaffna town. Long queues were seen along the Hospital road, people said.

Students, teachers, government servants and public who had come to Jaffna town were held up by the search operation. Many patients attending the Jaffna Teaching hospital also experienced difficulties due to this sudden and severe checking, sources siad.

The normal activities of the schools and the government offices were affected and many residents said they were reminded their experiences of past during the 1996/97 period, sources said.