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Curfew was imposed in Batticaloa and Ampara districts for 24 hours following some incidents in Valachchenai and Ottamawadi areas in the Batticaloa district, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando told the Daily news last night.

He said the Government is taking every possible step to keep the situation under control and maintain law and order in these areas.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered authorities to probe the Muttur incident which led to a tense situation in the East and to take stern action against the persons responsible for the incidents.

In an urgent move to defuse the tension in Valachchenai and Oddamavady, a high level team comprising Vanni Rehabilitation Minister Noordeen Mashoor, Highways Minister A.L.M. Athaullah, Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Deputy Minister Mohideen Abdul Cader went to Valachchenai yesterday morning by helicopter.

Batticaloa district MP Joseph Pararajasingham and Acting IGP V. Anandarajah also visited Valachchenai and held discussions to defuse the situation there.

Port Development and Shipping Minister and the Leader of the Muslim Congress Rauf Hakeem is also due to visit Valachchenai this morning to ascertain the situation there, Ministry sources said.

On a directive of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Ministers John Amaratunga, Karu Jayasuriya and Rauf Hakeem went to Muttur on Thursday and held discussions with the security authorities, religious dignitaries and residents in the area.

The Ministers after having discussions with the religious dignitaries and the residents in the area directed Police and the Army to increase the security in the area by deploying additional Police posts and increasing combined patrols by the Army and the Police.

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