13 January, 2009 - Published 17:34 GMT

Health chief requests safe haven

The head of health care in Kilinochchi, Dr Thangamuttu Sathyamoorthy, has called on the Director General of Health Services in the capital, Colombo, to find a secure location in which hospitals can operate in safety.

In two letters to the director, Dr Sathyamoorthy says there is no safe place to keep patients and asks if he should continue to offer services in the region or stop and leave the area for a time.

He says six hospitals have already been moved amid recent heavy fighting in the region between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels, and that many people already displaced by the conflict have been hit by shells in recent days.

The health authorities said they are concerned of the plight of the health officials serving in Vanni.

Dr. Vishwanathan Jeganathan, consultant to the health ministry on the north east, told BBC Sandeshaya that the ministry officials decided to discuss the request with secretary of defence.

At the same, ICRC representative who attended a meeting with health officials on Tuesday was requested to get a response from the LTTE whether the hospitals could be declared war free zones.

“Secretary of Health said he would refer the matter to the president if needed,” Dr. Jeganathan added.