* Food shipment sent to Sri Lankan IDPs in Mullaitivu
Saturday, February 28, 2009, 15:14 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 28, Trincomalee: Another stock of essential food items was shipped from Trincomalee Harbour to civilians trapped in Mullaitivu yesterday evening, Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

According to the Minister, this stock of essential food items was transported by the Green Ocean vessel with tight security arrangements.

The shipment consisted of nearly 50 tonnes of food items including rice, dhal, sugar, vegetable oil, and the medical items he added.

Preparations are underway to transport another stock of essential food items to Mullaitivu tomorrow, Minister Samarasinghe added.

Minister said the government hopes to dispatch enough essential food and other items to Mullaitivu until all the civilians are evacuated from the rebel held areas.