Tigers restricting entry to Govt. areas, say civilians

The Tigers have imposed a partial ban on civilians leaving the areas controlled by them in the Wanni to prevent an exodus into Government controlled areas, military sources said.

They said the LTTE had limited the issuing of passes to those wanting to enter Government-controlled areas to obtain medical treatment and to those who have been called for job interviews.

As a result, the number of civilians crossing the Omanthai check-point to enter the Government controlled Vavuniya town has dropped to less than 100 persons per day in contrast to about 3,000 persons prior to the ban.

The move to restrict civilians leaving the LTTE-controlled Wanni came as civilians started leaving for Government controlled areas fearing an outbreak of hostilities between the LTTE and Government forces.

The A 9 road between the Jaffna peninsula and the south remains closed since August 11 after fighting broke out between the Army and the LTTE at Muhamalai, the entry point to Jaffna peninsula.

Some civilians in the Wanni area had expressed their desire to leave the area when the military launched offensives in the Vakarai area.

The Vakarai area was brought under control by the security forces after allowing 40,000 civilians to leave the area.

More than 3,000 civilians have also fled the Thoppigala area in Batticaloa and entered the Government controlled area since last week.