The Hindu : Road link to Jaffna reopened

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 09, 2002

International

International

Road link to Jaffna reopened

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO APRIL 8. An important highway to the Jaffna peninsula was reopened today even as the stand-off between the Government and the LTTE continues over bus rights on the road.

The highway A9 was reopened at Muhamalai on the neck of Jaffna in the presence of Army and officials. But the traffic was thin with the two sides unable to come to terms on an LTTE proposal that it should operate its own bus service in the stretch of the highway that cuts through the territory controlled by it.

The first travellers to Muhamalai from the LTTE-controlled northern mainland were aid workers who were given a rousing welcome as they crossed into the peninsula.

A few private vehicles crossed over from the peninsula into the mainland. The Government has rejected the LTTE proposal for a monopoly bus service in the Vanni on the ground that it violated the spirit of the truce under which both sides agreed to allow a free movement of people and goods. Consultations continued late into the night to persuade the LTTE to drop the proposal, but finally, both sides decided to reopen the road without an agreement on this issue.

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