Govt relaxes transport along A-9 trunk road TO JAFFNA??.....SLA travel restriction on Jaffna peninsula residents remains...!!!

11/13/2009 11:34:31 AM
Govt relaxes transport along A-9 trunk road

The Government has decided to relax transportation of goods and passenger transportation by A-9 Road, for the convenience of the public in Jaffna. According to media reports following decisions were made facilitating transportation of people and goods from Jaffna and forth.

There is no restriction to transport goods to Jaffna and back as in the case of any other part of the country.

The vehicles that are already registered with the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) can engage in the transportation of goods. Registration of vehicles by CGES for transportation of goods to Jaffna is extended till November 30, 2009.

The vehicles belonging to Government Departments, Corporations, Banks and Manufacturing Companies, will be permitted to transport goods by their own vehicles, for six months continually.

They are requested to submit applications for CGES approval.

The public are permitted to travel to Jaffna and back by public transport and private busses which are now in operation.

Any private bus/coach owner who wishes to operate between Colombo and Jaffna, should apply to the National Transport Commission for route permits.

Private vessels are permitted to carry cargo to the North from any port of the country, subject to naval clearance and operational requirements of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Approval of the CGES is not required.

Ministry of Defence.LK
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SLA travel restriction on Jaffna peninsula residents remains
[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 November 2009, 08:28 GMT]

Though Sri Lanka Defence Ministry has announced that the A9 road has been opened to the public Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Palaali Military Head Office issued a new directive Friday which says that all residents of Jaffna peninsula should obtain the SLA travel pass as usual from their local SLA civil authorities if they wish to travel out of the peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. The Non-government Organizations Federation in Jaffna has sent an appeal to President Mahinda Rajapakse requesting the removal of the above travel restriction imposed on the people of the peninsula.

Earlier, SLA in Vavuniyaa had refused to allow public who wanted to proceed to Jaffna at the SLA check post in Vavuniyaa.

According to Ministry of Defence announcement the SLA authorities in Jaffna said Friday that persons who are not residents of Jaffna peninsula living in other parts of the country can travel to Jaffna through A9 road submitting a copy of their National Identity Card.

But, no specific information is available on the procedure the above persons to follow on their return journey.

The NGO Federation has also requested to regulate the exorbitant fare charged for the air-conditioned vehicles which are operated by influential political persons at the ministry level.

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