Special permit for Jaffna residents

Residents of Jaffna have been issued with a special security clearance permit after the conduct of a census in the peninsula, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri said.

Around 350,000 persons in the age category of 13 to 55 years were given the computerized permits, with support from the District Secretariat, he said.

Speaking further, Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri said that the holders of these permits would be exempt from extra checking when they cross over to the south of the country.
However, legal and human rights activists question the issue of this permit, which practically invalidates in Jaffna the national identity card that has been the legally accepted identification in the country.