SLA blocks use of Vadamaraadchi East road publicized as open

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 2010, 14:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) continues to block civilians from using the Point Pedro-Maruthangkea'ni Road that passes through Naakarkoayil in Vadamaraadchi East even after publicizing that the said road was to be open for public. A journalist who works for the Jaffna Tamil daily "Valampuri" has complained to the Jaffna Human Rights Commission that he was stopped at the SLA checkpoint at the Maruthangkea'ni bridge and was turned back without being allowed to proceed to his native village of Chempiyanpattu, civil sources in Jaffna said.

SLA refused to open the road even temporarily when the region was flooded and the local residents were enduring severe hardship travelling to relatives to escape rising waters.

Minister in the Sri Lanka's ruling Government, Douglas Devananada and the Sri Lanka military commanders announced on the 12th December that the said road will be opened.

However, the road still remains blocked for travel, local residents said.

District Secretariat officials said that the Maruthangkea'ni road has been demined, repaired, and in good condition for use by the public.