SLA permits opening of temples inside Point Pedro HSZ

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 December 2008, 17:28 GMT]
Doors of two Saiva temples located inside Point Pedro High Security Zone (HSZ) were opened for prayers and rituals again after being closed for more than two years, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Koddadi Siththivinaayagar Temple and Koadduvaasal Chandiga Parameswary Temple were closed for poojas and prayers from August 2006 when hostilities broke out between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers.

Palali Sri Lanka Military High Command said that they were allowing temples to resume function after they received repeated requests from local residents and devotees.

Segment of the Jaffna – Point Pedro road between Veambadi Junction and Aariya Ku’lam junction, which has also been closed for the last two years was reopened for traffic following the heavy floods in Jaffna.

Similarly the main road between Veambadi junction and Old Railway Station Junction was also reopened for traffic.

Sri Lanka military has allowed opening of selected roads that were closed in Thenmaraadchy area. The road leading to Kachchai from Chaavakacheari Town through Thamputhoaddam, and the Point Pedro Kodikaamam road through Va’rani have also been opened for public and traffic, sources in Thenmaraadchi said.

Gravel and sandy bypass roads the public has been using for the last two years were rendered impassable due to the recent heavy rains, prompting the Sri Lanka military to open some key roads.