Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assigned Economic Reforms Minister and Special Adviser to the PM on Ethnic Affairs Milinda Moragoda the responsibility of coordinating and directing all activity relating to the removal of the economic embargo imposed on Tiger controlled regions in the Northern mainland of the Wanni.

Informed sources close to Temple Trees disclosed that Wickremesinghe instructed Moragoda to move to Vavuniya immediately and exercise his responsibilities from the spot in order to ensure the smooth implementation of restriction removals.

The Sunday Leader learns that Wickremesinghe’s decision to send Moragoda comes in the wake of reluctance displayed by certain high ranking security officials to remove restrictions in force in a meaningful and constructive manner enabling Tamil civilians to reap the full benefits of the economic embargo being relaxed.

It is expected that Moragoda possessing a progressive outlook towards the resolution of the ethnic problem and also having both ministerial authority as well as the full backing of his premier would be able to provide the political direction necessary to remedy the situation.

The Sunday Leader learns that certain officials had objected to proposed measures like increasing entry-exit points between cleared and uncleared areas thus allowing increased numbers of civilians to travel back and forth.

Objections were also raised to the amounts of essential items a civilian could take personally and also the stocks to be transported in bulk by lorries.

While the rehabilitation ministry under Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene estimated that 120 lorries per week should take in food stocks, security circles had insisted that it should not be more than 60 per week. Given the fact that only one entry-exit point exists presently at Piraamanaalankulam on Vavuniya-Mannar road, the government realises that more points should be set up to allow more people to travel. Also the people should be allowed to take ample quantities personally instead of the 20 kilogram requirement at present, it is felt.

Moreover, unless enough lorries are allowed in the Wanni, Tamil civilians would not receive supplies commensurate to their actual needs.

Thus the entire objective of the government in relaxing the embargo would be thwarted with the civilians not getting the benefits of the embargo being relaxed.

Wickremesinghe is also mindful that despite President Kumaratunga announcing the embargo being removed in 1995, continuing security controls sabotaged that directive leading to an erosion of confidence in her by the LTTE and Tamil people.

Moragoda will function as a trouble-shooter and through adroit interaction with the security authorities implement the government policies in full. The government is committed to relaxing the economic embargo subject to certain conditions by the auspicious Thai Pongal day on January 14.