Food convoy to Vanni 13 December

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 December 1999, 21:40 GMT]
Food and other essential items are to be sent to the Vanni from Monday 13 December, said government sources in Vavuniya. A decision to this effect was taken in the top-level meeting held at the Vanni Security Forces Head Quarters today.

Sources said that the arrangements to set up checkpoints and space for cross loading goods and other infrastructures are being made.

Stranded passengers who came to Vavuniya and Mannar from the areas held by the LTTE are to be allowed back across on Tuesday, sources further said.

Government officials said about 350 such persons are stranded in Vavuniya and about 500 persons in Mannar and they are repeatedly requesting the officials to make arrangements to send them back to their homes in the Vanni.

On Wednesday, over 300 stranded persons in Vavuniya demonstrated opposite the Kachcheri requesting the officials to make arrangements to send them back to the Vanni.

Officials in Mannar said that the army officials in Mannar had granted already permission to send the stranded back to their homes, once an access route to the Vanni is opened.