02 October, 2006 - Published 15:25 GMT

Jaffna schools open but no children

Schools were open in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna on Monday, but teachers say students stayed away from them.

Joseph Stalin, president of Lanka Teachers’ Association said the students could not attend schools due to prevailing security situation in Jaffna.

Many Adults are afraid of going out to the street because of the security situation and it is school children who happen to stay in the queues buy bread and other essential items, he said.

419 dissapeared

The National human Rights Commission earlier told bbcsinhala.com that it had received 419 complaints on disappearances in Jaffna.

Residents say killings and abductions are continued as security forces and Tamil Tigers continue fighting in the north and the east.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered to open the schools in Jaffna as there were reports on LTTE preventing children attending schools, media reports said.

But teachers also find it difficult to attend the schools as checkpoints in Muhamalai and Omanthai has been closed for a long time, Joseph Stalin told BBC Sandeshaya.