Oct 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka government said yesterday that it plans to send convoys every week carrying 750- metric tons of food to the uncleared areas of the Wanni as 29 of the 51 trucks in the first convoy already reached the destinations and unloaded their shipment.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, S. B. Divaratne said 51 trucks carrying 650MT of food items including rice, flour, dhal, sugar and vegetable oil entered the Wanni through the Omanthai exit-point.

The trucks were checked and sealed by the Sri Lanka Army prior to their departure. Seven UN international staff members accompanied the convoy.

The government had planned to send a 60-truck convoy to carry 700 MT of food but following the discovery of 2 ½ kg of explosives and a large quantity of batteries were hidden in two of the trucks, decided to send only 51 truckloads.

The food will be delivered to four warehouses in Puthukudiyiruppu, Kandavalai, Dharmapuram and Mulliyavalai to ensure proper distribution to the displaced people in those areas.

In addition to the weekly deliveries the government plans to send 15-20 trucks daily carrying consumer goods and supplies including clothing, animal feed, fertilizer and kerosene for the general population in the Wanni.

The Army will facilitate the expeditious return of the empty trucks through Omanthai to enable a regular and sustainable flow of humanitarian supplies, the government said.