| Responding
to requests made by religious leaders, community and
people’s representatives, and also in view of
the present inclement weather that make sea transport
difficult, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed
that all possible steps be taken to ensure an
adequate supply of food and other goods for civilians
of the Jaffna peninsula.
The measures taken would include
the transport of essential food and other items in a
special convoy on the A9 route to Jaffna, which has
been closed from Muhamalai, since August 11, due to
continued LTTE hostilities. This action is being taken
in order to ensure the availability of a buffer stock
of food and other essentials for distribution in Jaffna.
A communiqué from the Presidential Secretariat
said the use of the A9 to ease the shortages of food,
fuel and other goods in Jaffna would be a one-time measure.
The communiqué noted that
the government has maintained a steady supply of goods
to Jaffna, despite inclement weather, threats to private
traders to close shops and attacks on ships carrying
humanitarian goods and people, all of which have led
to scarcities of certain commodities available to the
people of Jaffna.
Following is the text of the communiqué issued
yesterday (Nov. 19, 2006)
Communiqué from the
Presidential Secretariat
H.E the President had directed relevant
government authorities spearheaded by the Commissioner
General of Essential Services (CGES) to take all possible
steps to ensure adequate supplies of food and other
goods for the use of civilians in the Jaffna peninsula.
Since A9 could not be used for transport of goods to
Jaffna due to the prevailing security situation, the
government has been using sea transport for transport
of essential food items as well as fuel. The government
has maintained a steady supply of goods to Jaffna, despite
inclement weather, threats to private traders to close
shops and attacks on ships carrying humanitarian goods
and people, all these have led to scarcities of certain
commodities available to the people of Jaffna.
Having reviewed the situation, and
having considered representations made by religious,
community and people’s representatives and as
inclement weather is likely to continue in the next
few weeks, H.E the President has directed government
authorities to make arrangements for the transport of
essential goods to Jaffna by road using the A9, as a
one time measure. Soon, a large convoy of lorries will
take essential commodities to Jaffna. The government
will request independent organizations to facilitate
the movement of the convoy of lorries through the checkpoints
at Omanthai and Muhumalai. Lorries transporting goods
to Jaffna will be sealed and once the lorries reach
Jaffna, the seals will be opened in the presence of
representatives of civilian and religious organizations
and government authorities. All relevant parties will
be requested to ensure safe passage of these lorries
carrying humanitarian goods. Distribution of these
transported goods will also be observed by people’s
organizations.
In order to ensure that a satisfactory
buffer stock of food and other essential commodities
is maintained in Jaffna under the supervision of the
Government Agent/District Secretary of Jaffna, a large
fleet of lorries will have to transport adequate supplies
to Jaffna. These lorries will have to be made available
to the CGES as early as possible. Therefore, a public
appeal is hereby made to all those who could provide
lorries for this purpose to make them available to the
office of the CGES through telephone offers.
International humanitarian organizations
too are requested to offer their assistance to the supply
of humanitarian goods to the Jaffna peninsula so that
sufficient buffer stocks of all items necessary for
people of Jaffna could be ensured. Whilst this will
help meet the needs of the people, it will also build
confidence among the people.
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