SLA imposes 6 pm curfew around Weber stadium

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 March 2003, 18:39 GMT]
The 23-3 Brigade of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) which is located in close proximity to the Weber stadium in Batticaloa, has prohibited the use of the Weber stadium sports facilities after 6 p.m, sources said. Youths and other users of the playing fields are also being subjected to severe body search, added sources.

In the pre-1990 period Weber stadium was a center for youths sports activity, with organized training in different branches of sports.

However, from 1990 onwards, the SLA constructed different check points and barbed wire fences around the stadium, and only allowed sports activities till 8 p.m.

For the last two days, however, the SLA has extended the curfew from 6 p.m. This action was triggered by the tension prevailing in the SLA camp after Mullaitivu incident, a senior military officer said. In the Mullaitivu incident Sri Lanka Navy is alleged to have fired on an LTTE merchant vessel in International waters. The merchant vessel caught fire and sank.

The SLA in Batticaloa is strengthening its camps and checkpoints, and also getting additional military personnel, sources in the East said.