|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 30 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Special instructions from President Kumaratunga by Ranil Wijayapala Disaster affected people in the North-East including those in the LTTE-controlled areas have been supplied with humanitarian assistance under the special instructions of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Presidential Secretariat sources said yesterday. Secretary to the President W.J.S. Karunaratne in a letter addressed to the LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P Thamilselvan has also conveyed the message that all Government services are available for deployment in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in the same manner as for all other affected parts of the country, Secretariat sources added. Director General of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala has conveyed this offer of Government assistance to S. Puleethevan, Secretary General of the LTTE Peace Secretariat. The Presidential Secretary in his letter has also invited the LTTE to participate in a high level coordinating committee that President Kumaratunga has established to ensure prompt and effective delivery of relief services. President Kumaratunga has given special instructions to allocate Rs.70 million for the disaster affected districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya in the North and Trincomalee and Batticaloa in the East. According to statistics 13,930 deaths were reported from the North East alone and more than 175,640 people have been displaced. All Government Agents in their capacity as Competent Authorities have been empowered to spend these funds according to the needs of the people affected by Sunday's disaster. The assistance in the form of rice, dhal, clothing, bed sheets, tents, cooking equipment and drugs have already been transported to the affected areas in the North-East including the districts of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. UN agencies including UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO and the ICRC are assisting the government in its relief efforts in the North-East. A greater part of the medical supplies received and foreign doctors from India, Russia, France and Israel have been sent to the North-East last morning, the Secretariat said. "Requests from the LTTE Development Secretariat for assistance are being met by the government," the Presidential Secretariat added. Additional Secretary to the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Refugee Ministry A.C.M. Razik told the Daily News that huge stocks of sugar and dhal were transported to the North East. A total of 2189 MTs of sugar and 383 MTs of dhal has already been dispatched to the districts of North East, Razik added. The areas will also get 1705 MTs of rice. He said the Ministry was obtaining information from the respective Government Agents. Meanwhile, Military Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has given special instructions to the Security Forces to provide humanitarian assistance to LTTE controlled areas in coordination with the North East Governor Tyronne Fernando. Eastern Province DIG Neville Wijesinghe told the Daily News yesterday that the people in refugee camps have commenced returning their homes by yesterday. He said the people from the uncleared areas in the East have also reached Government controlled areas in search of assistance. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
