Hartal cripples Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2003, 16:39 GMT]
Normal life in Trincomalee district was disrupted Friday due to the general shut down (hartal) and the resulting closure of all Tamil medium schools, offices of provincial and local institutions, shops, non-governmental organizations, state and private sector banks, sources said. The transport services were curtailed to minimum and almost all the roads in the east port town were deserted.

The hartal was called demanding the immediate release of all Tamil political detainees in several prisons in the south, to condemn the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for sinking the LTTE vessel violating the ceasefire agreement and to mourn the deaths of the LTTE cadres who died in the SLN attack, sources said.

Muslim businessmen also extended their full co-operation by closing their establishments and schools in Trincomalee town.

Only Sinhala medium schools functioned Friday, sources said.

Deserted Trincomalee main bazaar.

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