Aged civilian in SLA detention centre dies in Jaffna without treatment

An aged civilian held in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled detention centre in Mirusuvil in Thenmaraadchi died Saturday night in Jaffna Teaching Hospital due to delayed treatment, sources in Jaffna said. The victim identified as Anthonipillai Philipaiya, 62, who had been suffering from some diseases, was one of the civilians fleeing war in Vanni and was detained in the centre located in Mirusuvil Catholic Church premises.

Regional Health Service sources said that the transportation of seriously ill patients to hospitals from the detention centre is being severely hampered due to acute scarcity for ambulances.

On the other hand, SLA soldiers do not allow the civilians held in the detention centres to go out for treatment at the beginning of being infected with any disease, sources said.