From the Tamil Press:

Assistance for resettled

M.P. Muttiah

Tamil National Alliance's Deputy Parliamentary Leader Mavai Senadhirajah said that the decision of Parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam to contest the Presidential Election as an independent was sudden and contradictory to the party's stand.

He said that the TNA had unanimously decided not to field a Tamil candidate for the Presidential Election.

There is enough time to take a final decision to whom the TNA should support. During the discussion held both parliamentarians M.K. Sivajilingam and N. Srikantha were present. Therefore, the decision taken by Sivajilingam is contradictory to the stand of the TNA, Senathirajah said.

Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda said that those who were resettled and did not receive compensation could contact his Ministry for such assistance.

He said that assistance were being given to the resettled persons in stages. He could be contacted at the Jaffna office of his Ministry.

National Congress spokesman Ameerullah Assak Maulana said that Myown Mustapha contesting the Presidential Election would not have any impact. His entering into the fray would not have any impact either on the election as far as the Muslim community is concerned, he said.

Permission had been granted to visit Keerimalai temple from yesterday.

Nobody was allowed to enter the temple since 1990 as it came under the High Security Zone.