Jaffna-Trincomalee ferry service resumes

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 December 1998, 20:56 GMT]
Sources in the north said that the cargo ship 'Lanka Muditha' is scheduled to sail to Trincomalee from Jaffna on December 11 with 1000 passengers. It is expected that the ship will return from Trincomalee to Jaffna in order to make another trip.

Many NGO's and civilian organisations have raised concern that soldiers are being transported along with civilians in what is ostensibly a civilian service.

On October 30, the Lanka Muditha, set sail from Jaffna with 525 civilians and 500 soldiers. The ship had to return as a Sri Lanka Navy escort that was to meet the ship failed to do so after being attacked by the LTTE.

After the suspension of flights from Jaffna, the ferry service became more important. On November 4, the ship arrived in Trincomalee.

According to a civilian who was a passenger, the ship was carrying about 1000 soldiers, 525 civilians and many foreign nationals.

Dutch and Canadian embassy staff were in Trincomalee to meet their respective nationals, who had been stranded in Jaffna after the suspension of flights.

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