Vanni food convoys 'to continue'

Convoys of food and essential supplies for the displaced in the Vanni to continue in the coming weeks, Sri Lanka authorities said.
Fifty one lorry loads of food supplies were sent to the internally displaced in Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts, with the help of the United Nations, last week.
Kilinochchi Government Agent (GA), Nagalingam Vedanayagan, told the BBC on Friday that food supplies are already being distributed but the supplies are only available for one week.
Officials at the ministry of disaster management and human rights say that 750-1000 MT of dry rations will be supplied every week to rebel-held Vanni.
"These are in addition to 15-20 lorries sent per day carrying consumer goods and supplies for the general population in the Vanni which includes food items, clothing, animal feed, fertiliser and kerosene," a press release issued by the ministry said.
Permanent secretary of the disaster management services ministry ACM Razik told journalists in Colombo that a family of five members will receive supplies worth SLRs 1250 every month.
World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that food sent to the rebel held Vanni would only serve the internally displaced for one week.

Explosives in Lorries

WFP Acting Country Director Azeb Asrat told the BBC Sinhala service that the WFP will send "the same amount of food or more," every week.
Minister Mahinda Samrasinghe also told the journalists that the lorries in which explosives were found belong to the government convoy, not the United Nations.
Sri Lanka media reported on Friday that explosives were found in UN lorries bound for Vanni.
However, explosives and a large quantity of batteries were found in two lorries hired by the GA from a private lorry owner, the ministry said.

Kilinochchi hospital

Meanwhile, Kilinochchi hospital authorities are preparing to transfer the hospital to Dharmapuram and Viswamadu.
The hospital is still functioning and patients keep coming to the hospital, medical staff in Vanni say.
Schools in Kilinochchi are also preparing to move to other places and shifting their furniture.
Residents in Kilinochchi say that the fighting has died down in the town and the remaining residents are preparing to move out.