Opposition leaders hit back at LTTE over A9 highway
By Suranga Gamage and Krishan Francis
PA Parliamentarian Sarath Amunugama speaking in Parliament yesterday called on the government to clarify its position regarding the LTTE obstruction to the SLTB buses plying to Jaffna along the re-opened A9 road.

Participating in the committee stage debate on the budget, Dr. Amunugama said the LTTE's action was a violation of the fundamental law of the country as well as the country's sovereignty.

Colombo District Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena said the National Transport Act was the law governing the transportation in the country and the National Transport Commission was the only body which has authority to operate buses in the peripheral areas of the country.

Referring to a news paper report that the Rehabilitation and North Development Ministry has interfered with selecting 10 private bus operators to the North, Mr. Gunawardena questioned under what procedure had the North Development and Rehabilitation Ministry chosen the bus operators.

He alleged that the selection of bus operators was done according to the wishes of the LTTE. Mr. Gunawardena also said two newspapers published in the Eastern province were banned by the LTTE, as they were published by their opponents.

He questioned what action was being taken by the government and the Norway mediators about this issue and questioned whether it was the law of the LTTE that prevailed in the North and the East.