SLAF caution disrupts cash supply

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Banks in the Batticaloa town may face a liquidity crisis soon if the Sri Lankan Airforce does not resume flights to Batticaloa said sources in the eastern town today.

Flights to Batticaloa town were cancelled last week after the Liberation Tigers brought down a Mi 24 helicopter with a surface to air missile.

The banks in the east receive cash by air as all access routes to the province are considered insecure by the army.

The airforce has regular flights once a week to Trincomalee and particularly to Batticaloa to carry money to the banks along with several VIPs who are scared to travel to Colombo by road.

Bankers in the town remain tight-lipped for they say that news about a cash shortage among customers can cause further problems.

The SLAF sources said there might be further delay as they are expecting major attacks by the LTTE on the main Sri Lankan security forces positions in the Batticaloa district during the Maaveerar week.

There is pressure on the airforce currently to back the Jayasikurui operation with most of its resources.