Update From Trinco

Security is tight in Trinco. It was tightened for the LTTE mahaviru day on November 27 and has remained tight up to now due to the land operation into Vakarai.

At the moment there are 62 check points for 42 kilometres of roads in Trincomalee. There is one policemen for every 5 houses in the area covering Trinco to Nilaveli road and Trinco Kantale.

Vehicles are not allowed to park in Trinco town area. People have to walk or take three-wheelers for a distance of between 200 metres to 1 km
to go to banks such as HNB, Commercial, Seylan and Sampath Bank.

Vehicles can be parked at the Ehambaram Stadium. On the North Coast road, vehicles cant be stopped without a driver or any person has to stay inside the vehicles. If there is no one in the vehicle the police takes the vehicle to the station or given court fines
of more than Rs500.

Internet didn’t work last week as fixed-line phones from Trinco outward did not function, but mobile phones were working.

Rice has gone up to Rs42 for Samba per kilo compared to Rs33 in Colombo, Coconut is at Rs22-25 compared with Rs16 in Colombo, in addition all else such as sugar, dhal is higher by about 5-7 rupees. Vegetables are about 15-20 rupees higher per kilo.

Fish (Bollo) Rs220 per kilo compared with Rs140 per kilo about 3 weeks ago. It was Rs30 per kilo at this time last year. Boats with outward motors are not allowed in trinco for fishing and fishing is not allowed after 6pm in the evening.

No fish has been sent to the St Johns market in Colombo from Trinco for the last 3 months. About 5-6 trucks used to come to Colombo from Trinco every day prior to 1st of august. Recently there have been 2-3 hour power cuts due to breakdowns. There
was an 8 hour power cut on Christmas day.

Filed on Dec 29