Civil Committees strengthened to counter Grease Monster myth

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Civil Committees have been beefed up in the Eastern Province and certain parts of the Northern and Uva Provinces to educate villagers not to fall prey to the rumours about Grease Monsters (Grease Yakas) which is a ruse adopted by undesirable elements to create chaos and disrupt village life.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi told the Daily News that the Police, the forces and Divisional Secretariats in a joint effort are strengthening and forming new Civil Committees to educate the public in their villages on the myth.

He also stated that these committees were not new but were in operation even during the height of the operations against terrorism, at village level, to make the villagers vigilant about elements that would affect the security of the villages. He added that the same committees have been instructed to be vigilant of any unusual elements in villages and if there were any such element to inform the relevant authorities.

The Military Spokesman also stated that any number of Civil Committees could be formed at the discretion of the Police, Security Forces and the Divisional Secretariats.

These committees have been beefed up in the Eastern Province, in certain areas of the Uva Province and peripheral areas of Anuradhapura and in Mannar.