Most Muttur civilians return

Rajmi Manatunga and Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: Around 95 per cent of persons displaced due to the LTTE attacks on Muttur have returned to their original places of living.

Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said the Government has facilitated the safe return of most Muttur civilians who fled the area following the terrorist attacks.

"We were able to ensure the safe return of nearly 95 per cent of the displaced who were accommodated in the nearby areas. Only a small number of persons temporarily residing in places like Kurunegala, Negombo and Galewela are yet to return," he said.

Around 27,000 civilians of Muttur were displaced in the LTTE shelling on the town last month. The attacks also caused heavy damage to the infrastructure and houses of the area.

Muttur civilian life is reaching normality with many Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) re-settling in their homes, Director General of 'Jathika Saviya' of the Presidential Secretariat Lalith Abeygoonawardena confirmed.

The Director General said that there were 1,385 families, consisting of 4364 members in Trincomalee town area and Gravets earlier. There had been three Muslim and 12 Tamil camps.

However, with the proper intervention of the Government and under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapakse, normality had been restored in the Trincomalee town area.

"All Government offices have resumed normal duties, including Post Offices, the Education Department and banks. Vegetable and fish markets are back in business. Fishermen have been given permission to resume their livelihoods in small-engined boats," he said.

The Trinco Town and Gravets Divisional Secretary Sasi Devi Jalatheepan confirmed that Muslim IDPs have already re-settled and around 250 Tamil IDPs have also followed suit in Muttur. The remaining 908 families comprising 2,827 members are reluctant to get back due security reasons, but hopefully may do so within about two weeks time, she added.

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) said it had deployed 150 buses to transport the displaced persons to Muttur. Ten additional buses are to be deployed to facilitate the return of the remaining displaced persons.

According to Minister Fowzie, the Housing Ministry is carrying out an assessment to evaluate the damage caused to the houses in Muttur. The reconstruction is expected to commence on the completion of the assessment.