Govt to reopen all Vakarai schools soon

Three schools already open:

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: Three schools in the Vakarai area had been opened. All schools in the area will be reopened by April.

Special bus service has already been launched for the convenience of students and teachers, said Resettlement and Diaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Badiudeen.

The Minister addressing the media at the Ministry said: the Ministry has made arrangements to distribute dry rations and essential items to displaced from Uriyankattu, Baduwankara and Thoppigala areas.

Minister Badiudeen said the Government has despatched 200 metric tons of rice, 100 metric tons dhal, 100 metric tons sugar and tents to these camps. The same time Ministry has allocated Rs. 5 million for sanitation facilities and Rs. 2 million to purchase milk powder items. The funds were provided to the Batticaloa District Secretary.

The Minister said 5,000 families displaced from Vakarai have been resettled in their original homes.

He expressed confidence that the Ministry will be able to resettle the remaining families in their villages before March 31.

Ten busses will ply from Batticaloa to Vakarai and additional five busses have been provided to this area to cater to the displaced.

The Minister also said he has directed the officials to distribute dry rations and other important items to these displaced till people commence their main occupation of fishing. A sixteen-member committee has been set up to look into the housing problems of the resettled families. They hope to return these people to their normal lives at the earliest.