<b>Opening A-5 Road, a Right move towards Peace</b>

Guna Kajanath, Our Correspondent reports from Chenkalady, July 15: I was in the group of media persons, who traveled this morning with the convoy of vehicles, the 32 kilometers between Chenkalady and Periya Pullumalai, marking the opening of yet another strategic road, shut down for public use due to the country’s ethnic strife.

“The opening of the Chenkalady- Badulla road (A5) is yet another gift to the country by the ceasefire agreement,” said Major General Sunil Tennakone, after a low key opening of the road at Chenkalady. .

“The opening of the Chenkalady- Badulla road (A5) is yet another gift to the country by the ceasefire agreement,” said Major General Sunil Tennakone after a low key opening of the road at Chenkalady. .

The ceasefire agreement was signed on February 23 by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Velupillai Pirabaharan..

LTTE’s Eastern region's leader Karikalan, highlighted the significance of the event saying: “Chenkalady- Badulla road was not mentioned in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU). Agreement. Agreement to open it was worked out at the regional level between the army and the LTTE with the assistance of the officers of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.”.

MOU only mentioned about the opening of Kandy - Jaffna road - A9, the land link between Jaffna and the mainland. It was opened in February.

Since then roads connecting Vavuniya and Trincomalee and Vavuniya and Mannar had been opened. Opening of roads is considered an effective means to restore normalcy in Sri Lanka where LTTE rebels held territory in the north and east..

Travel along A5 was intermittently interrupted during 1990 to 1995 and was completely closed since 1995. The 32 kilometer stretch between Chenkalady and Periya Pullumalai was under LTTE control..

An atmosphere of comradeship prevailed today between the soldiers and LTTE fighters who had fought each other for 19 years. They jointly de-mined and repaired the road. They did a joint trial run to inspect the safety of the road Batticoloa commander Brigadier V. R. S. Anthonis and LTTE political officer Visu traveling together in the army jeep..

A brief religious ceremony in which Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian clergy and the serving of the traditional Sinhala kiribath (milk rice) underscored the re-emerging amity. .

Residents living in the villages located along the Ap-5 highway, was seen beaming with hope and smiling enthusiastically, were seen standing by the side of the road, waving and cheering, which gave the convoy of military and civilian vehicles, an enthusiastic welcome..

Their travel and living would now be easy. Many private bus operators have undertaken to operate their services in this road. LTTE has given an undertaking to the SLMM not to levy taxes from the passengers, SLMM head General Trond Furuhovde said..

The 176 kilometer Chenkalady- Badulla road, is the shortest link between the eastern Batticoloa and the Central hills. For the past seven years, a circuitous rout, through Colombo was used. It is over 300 kilometers..

“Apart from quicker travel substantial economic benefits will flow to the people of eastern and central Sri Lanka,” Army spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said. East would get a steady supply of upcountry vegetables- carrot, beetroot, cabbage and beans. Central hills will obtain fish and rice..

The opening of A5, at a time the Tamil- Muslim tension that heightened following the Valaichchenai clash is ebbing, will help the return of normalcy to the people living along A5..

At Periya Pullumalai, which our convoy reached around noon, Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese were present to greet the convoy. Local leaders hugged army commanders and LTTE leaders with equal enthusiasm and affection. They were touched..

Karikalan and Tennakoon told the media:” This is another step to give the people what they yearn for in the year for- PEACE.”.