A-9 will open after area is cleared of land mines: Ekanayake
By Olindhi Jayasundere
The A-9 highway from Vavuniya to Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula will be closed to the public until the threat of landmines is cleared, said Highways and Road Development Minister, T.B Ekanayake yesterday.
The Minister said there are still landmines buried under the A-9 highway and on either side of it and it cannot be opened until the mines are all removed. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had advised the Ministry that they should not rush the process of removing the mines. “If anyone gets injured by stepping on a landmine we would be the ones responsible. We want to ensure that nothing goes wrong. So we’re taking every precaution in removing the landmines.” he said.
The Minister said they do not know how long the process will take but that they will take as long as is necessary to ensure that the threat of landmines and all other destructive objects are removed. “After the highway is cleared we will open it again to the public.” he said. The A-9 highway is currently used only by the armed forces.
The A-9 highway is the route connecting Kandy to Jaffna. It was closed at Muhamalai in October 2006 after heavy fighting broke out in the area. Later the southern end of the road was also closed when the military operations to recapture the Wanni resumed towards the end of 2007. The area was bought under the command of the Armed forces in January this year after the capture of Elephant Pass.
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