Ship with essentials on way to Jaffna

by Panchamee Heawavissenti

The stock containing school textbooks, food, dry rations, asbestos sheets and cement was loaded on MV MERCS YALA VOY on Friday at Colombo harbour. The goods were loaded under the inspection of the Deputy Commissioner and head of Tamil section, Educational Publication Department- Lenin Madivanam and the Deputy Commissioner of Essential Services, Rear Admiral H.S. Ratnakeerthi.

The first stock of Tamil medium textbooks was sent to Jaffna in December and the second stock was sent for the new term.

Along with the 575 mt of textbooks, 400 mt of food items, 600 mt of asbestos sheets and cement and other essential items, a total of 1500 mt will be taken over by the Government Agent of Jaffna. School textbooks will be handed over to the Department of Education office in Jaffna.

It was organised by the Commissioner General of Essential Services, S. D. Divaratne and it was coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of Essential Services.

After the A- 9 road was closed in August 2006, entrance to Jaffna was hindered and the sea route was used to transport goods to Jaffna.

At the beginning there were only two ships and now it has expanded to ten.

Ships carrying essential goods are sent to Jaffna twice a month,as it takes 25 days to reach Jaffna.