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| Tuesday, 28 December 2004 |
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| Country has sufficient fuel to tide over any emergency - Premajayanth by Nadira Gunatilleke Relief for the tidal wave victims will be provided in the cleared and uncleared areas Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayanth said yesterday stressing there will be no discrimination in the implementation of relief programs in this respect. He was addressing a special Cabinet Press briefing held at the Information Department, Colombo 5 yesterday (27). Minister Premajayanth said that the country had sufficient fuel to tide over any emergency. "The country has sufficient crude oil and refined oil stocks. The power supply of about 75 percent of the affected areas are now being restored", he said. He said Hospitals were provided with generators. The power supply in the rest of the areas will be restored soon although at the moment the power supply cannot be restored due to broken and damaged high tension power lines. "If we provide power without repairs there will be power leaks", the Minister said. MP, Wimal Weerawansa said that at the present moment the whole country should unite and work as one nation in order to stand up against all hazards. "We have already put in place all operational arrangements. The Government has strength to fight back and recover from this disaster. The media should desist from highlighting minor incidents of robberies and such acts by miscreants. The public should contribute in all possible ways. We can turn this tragedy to a victory through working unitedly", he added. Arrangements have already been made to identify dead persons through photographs and fingerprints, restore human life affected by the tidal wave and prevent spreading water borne diseases. Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that arrangements have been made to collect data and information about the persons and properties affected by the disaster. The sub committees will coordinate and monitor distribution of relief and foreign aid. Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that the ministry will use its 29,000 manpower strength to assist those affected by the disaster and collect data of the affected families. Samurdhi trade unions have decided to donate Rs. 1,000 from their salaries for the relief program. Social Welfare Deputy Minister S. M. Chandrasena and several other officials also spoke. |
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