Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A 9 highway (Sri Lanka)


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The A9 Highway is a 321 kilometers (199 mi)[1] long highway in Sri Lanka, which connects the central city of Kandy with Jaffna, a city on the northern tip of the island. The major cities along the A9 highway are Matale, Dambulla, Anuradhapura (at Mihintale), Medawachchiya, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi.

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[edit] Effects of the civil war

Due to the civil war in the north of the country between the Sri Lankan armed forces and Tamil Tiger rebels, the highway was closed in 1984. Since then, parts of the highway were at times under the control of the LTTE. After the cessation of hostilities between the two sides in 2001, the highway was ceremoniously reopened up to Kilinochchi with certain restrictions on February 15, 2002.[2] During the time, around 20% of the highway ran through the LTTE controlled areas.

After fighting resumed between government forces and the rebels, the road was closed again in 2006.[3] After mounting a series of offensives against the rebels, the Sri Lankan Army brought the entire highway under its control on January 9, 2009, with the freeing of the strategic Elephant Pass area. This was the first in 23 years that the government has full control of the entire highway.[4][5]

[edit] Reopening

On March 2, 2009, after demining along the highway was completed and damage that was done to the surface during the conflict repaired, the A9 Highway was reopened for troop movement the first time since 1984. After an official function at Elephant Pass, the first buses carrying Sri Lanka Army personal departed the Jaffna Peninsula at 9.04am. The military expects to reopen the road for civilians in April.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Road Development Authority, Class A & Class B Roads
  2. ^ "Smooth sailing on A9 highway". The Daily News. 2002-02-16. http://www.dailynews.lk/2002/02/16/new01.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-02.
  3. ^ a b "A-9 opens". The Daily News. 2009-03-03. http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/03/sec01.asp. Retrieved on 2009-03-02.
  4. ^ A9 REGAINED, Daily Mirror
  5. ^ LTTE's most fortified Northern garrison at EPS falls, Ministry of Defence

[edit] See also

[edit] Maps

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