All facilities for fleeing civilians

Rohan Mathes

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the relevant officials to provide all necessary facilities to the once entrapped civilians fleeing towards the Government controlled territory, from the uncleared areas.

Two camps have been established at Menik Farm and Nelunkulam in the Settikulam and Vavuniya, areas, for the exodus of displaced persons. Around 750 families are domiciled herein.

The Security Forces and the Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat have jointly stepped-up their programmes in providing sanitary facilities, food, pharmaceutical and other essentials for the displaced families.

The families include displaced persons from Oddusudan, Sinna Adempan, Kadduwau, Puliyankulam, Nadunkerni and Kilinochchi. They have travelled over 20 to 30 miles by foot, via the jungles of the Vanni, confronting grave dangers in their long and tedious journey to reach the camps in the cleared area.

Rs. 3000 million has been allocated already for this year from the budget to inaugurate the "Uthuru Vasanthaya' Development programme. Another Rs. 500 million has also been allocated from the Ministry of Resettlement for this purpose. The Government envisages rapid development and uplift of the lifestyles of the people for a better tomorrow, in the Northern Province.

The Aruchthottam Shivananda Vidyalya in Vavuniya is been used as the camp for the displaced in Menik Farm. Another camp is also been erected on a crown land in Menik Farm.