June 29, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1423

COLOMBO, June 28: Following acute unrest in the Batticaloa region, the Lankan government on Friday imposed a 24-hour curfew in the northeastern areas of Batticaloa and Ampara.

It has also extended the curfew already imposed in Valachchenai, in the Batticaloa district.

Valachcheinai, a northeastern town with a large Muslim population along with majority Tamils, turned into a ghost town when Tamils and Muslims clashed on Thursday.

A large number of shops in Valachchenai were damaged in the clashes between Tamils and Muslims.