JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday demanded that Opposition MPs be allowed to visit Northern areas from the Medawachchiya Army check point.

Civilians are allowed to go beyond this check point, but not the Opposition MPs, he said.

JVP MP Ranaweera Pathirana had attempted to pass through this check point to attend a funeral of one of his supporters, but had been turned back by security forces, he said.

Later, the MP had to mix up with civilians and ride on a motorbike to go through the check point without disclosing to the security men that he was a parliamentarian, MP Dissanayake said.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Minister Rishard Bathudeen said that even he had to obtain clearance from the Ministry of Defence to proceed ahead of this checkpoint and the Opposition MPs too could apply and obtain MoD clearance.