Army denies lifting of Omanthai checkpoint restrictions

The Sri Lankan military says Omanthai checkpoint would continue to operate as usual, denying Monday's reports the checkpoint was opened to all vehicles and people.

Vehicles carrying fresh food products were given priority as of yesterday, but everyone else will be inspected as usual, according to army spokesperson Brigardier Jayanth Jayaweera.

“There is no basis for these reports. We have been instructed to operate the checkpoint as usual. Only the priority will be given for some of the vehicles, that too after the inspections as the checkpoint is a foremost checkpoint,” Brigadier Jayaweera said.

During the armed conflict, Omanthai was the last military checkpoint, before the LTTE-held territory in the Vanni and effectively was one end of the border crossing into the de-facto state of Tamil Eelam.

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