Kalmunaikudi residents protest, demand permanent housing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 July 2006, 09:40 GMT]
A group of tsunami affected families in Kalmunaikudi area in Amparai district protested in front of the Divisional Secretariat office Wednesday against the failure of the Government authorities to provide permanent houses, civil sources said. The Kalmunaikudi Divisional Secretariat office did not work following the protest. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse gave the Kalmunaikudi residents three months ago that the Government would provide houses within a short period.

Kalmunaikudi residents had held a protest for several days three months ago blocking the Kalmunaikudi DS office demanding new houses for them. They later abandoned the protest when Mr. Rajapakse assured them through satellite phone that they would be provided with new houses without any delay.

President gave this assurance in the presence of Amparai district Government Agent and parliamentarians of the district, sources said.

"We have recommenced our protest. We will continue our protest campaign till our demand is met," protestors said.