Vavuniya news in brief

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 April 2003, 11:12 GMT]
Japanese medical team performs surgery, May day to be observed as peace day and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) blocks visitors to Pallai celebrations at Omanthai checkpoint.

Japanese medical team to perform surgery in Vavuniya

A team of specialist doctors from Japan is currently in Vavuniya and the team will perform free surgery for lip and mouth deformities (cleft palate) at the Vauniya General Hospital, starting Wednesday till May 8, hospital sources in Vavuniya said.

People from the Vavuniya district who have registered their names for the surgery as well those from other districts who haven’t yet registered could visit the hospital during this period and benefit from the surgery, said the Deputy Commissioner of health services in Vavuniya.

May Day to be observed as peace day in Vavuniya

The May Day, traditionally celebrated to mark the revolution in worker’s rights, will this year be held in Vavuniya as a peace day, demanding permanent peace in the country. Trade unions and other labor organizations, the Tamil National Alliance will jointly hold the day’s events with the cooperation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources in Vavuniya said.

On Thursday, rallies will start from 5 fronts in Vavuniya-- the Kurumankadu junction, Jaffna road, Irampaikulam St. Anthony’s church, Kandy road and Poonthodam road—and will converge at the Town Council grounds. Then a general meeting, the May Day declaration, special speeches and an arts program will follow, the sources said.

Army denies permission for buses to visit Pallai

The Sri Lanka army at the Omanthai Checkpoint denied permission for people from the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts traveling by Ceylon Transport Board and privatized buses to the LTTE’s function held in Pallai to celebrate the fall of Elephant Pass and the defeat of Operation Agni Kheela, sources said.

As a result, hundreds of buses had to be queued up in front of the checkpoint for several hours. The people had to get off the buses, walk to the other side and take other buses to the North, which caused hardships and delays to those visiting Pallai, the sources said.