Visit to rebel controlled Jaffna
“Taking the message of peace and love to the North” By air, sea and now the land route (A9) to Jaffna I had gone to Jaffna several times by air to treat the military casualties at the Palaly Base Hospital situated in the High-Security Zone in Palaly, Jaffna. I had also travelled to Jaffna by sea to help the medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna. But never have I been to Jaffna by road…
Recapitulating my learning experience in treating battle casualties The origin of the North-East conflict can be traced to the explosion of a landmine in Thirunvely, Jaffna on the 23rd July 1983. By 1985, the violence had spread to the Eastern Province. I was the only surgeon at the Base Hospital in Polonnaruwa at that time. Treating casualties became my responsibility. There was no help from anywhere. I had no option but to do my best for the injured and undertook…
‘Prisoner of War’ undergoes surgery at the Sri Jayewardenapura General Hospital The Staff in the ward await my arrival and an exciting day ahead! 29th November 1994 I wanted to make a surprise appearance in my ward at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH) on the 29th morning. However, that was not possible. I had to call the ward on the 28th on arrival from Jaffna by aircraft informing them that I was sending a patient for admission. That was…
A true-to-life account of high-risk adventure and “acrobatics” at sea I left Colombo on the 16th November 1994 and reached Jaffna on the 17th November after a devious journey which took me and the others, first, from Colombo to Trincomalee by bus. Then it was by ICRC ship Flamboyan from Trincomalee to Point Pedro Jetty. From there it was in a kerosene-driven old Austin Cambridge to the city of Jaffna. No doubt the journey took a considerable length of time…
25th November 1994 “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you say, we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:10) Flashback A Surprise meeting of a Fisherman from the South in the Jaffna Hospital 18th November 1994 I was at the surgical ward of the General Hospital, Jaffna for the Final Examination of the medical students. While most of the patients brought for the examination were fluent in the Tamil language…
November 1994 Public Conveyance and Traffic Control “The main objective of visiting Jaffna was to be an examiner at the Final MBBS examination for students of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna. That was completed on 20th November. However, my return to Colombo by ICRC ship was scheduled only for the 25th of November. Therefore, I had plenty of time to participate in other activities and visiting places of interest in war-torn Jaffna. This was also an…
November 1994 Final MBBS Examination at the General Hospital Jaffna 18th November 1994 and Surprises Galore in Jaffna I left Colombo on the 16th November 1994 and reached the city of Jaffna on the 17th around noon. After taking a short break, I visited the hospital and thereafter had a good night’s rest. The next day I was ready to examine the students of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna for the Final MBBS examination in Clinical…
“Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose” Benjamin Disraeli The last leg of my journey from Point Pedro to Jaffna city in rebel controlled territory – 17th November 1994 More than a day had passed since I left my home in Colombo. I had still not reached my destination, the city of Jaffna. I have had no contact with home. The telecommunication…
November 1994 “Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear or be in dread of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) My journey begins – 16th November 1994 Colombo to Trincomalee by bus My trip to Jaffna was coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It was 16th November 1994. I had to report to the ICRC Headquarters in Colombo…
November 1994 Background After the capture of the Jaffna Fort by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in September 1990, the entire Jaffna peninsula was in control of the LTTE except for the High-Security Zone (HSZ) in Palaly, Jaffna and Elephant Pass at the neck of the peninsula. I had never visited Jaffna even during times of peace before 1983. However, after the onset of the war, I visited the HSZ in Jaffna on many occasions to treat the…