The Hindu Business Line : After 22 year, Colombo gets Jaffna supplies via land route

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has reopened a crucial land route from the war-ravaged Jaffna to Colombo after 22 years, following the complete capture of the peninsula by the military from the Tamil rebels.

As many as 22 trucks carrying harvest from the North, especially from Jaffna, reached the capital last evening with prawns, lobsters, red onions, dry fish and fresh vegetables.

The Colombo-bound convoy, after its ceremonial start from the Government Food Store in Navatkuli in Jaffna, travelled through the Elephant Pass to Colombo.

The Sri Lankan troops had recently captured the crucial Pass and other rebel-held parts of the peninsula, establishing complete government control over the region after two decades.

The same convoy had on Tuesday reached Jaffna with a consignment of various food items from Colombo.

Media Minister, Mr Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that the prices of essential commodities in the North are expected to decline considerably after supplies start reaching the northern region from other parts of the country on a regular basis following th e opening of the land route.

The produce of farmers in the North will flow into the markets in the South which will also result in a drop in the prices of essential commodities in southern region, he said. -PTI

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