Akashi visits Muttur

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 October 2006, 00:24 GMT]
Mr. Yashushi Akashi, Japanese special peace envoy, paid a visit to Muthur town Thursday morning and met Muslims, Tamils and Sinhala residents at the Muthur Divisional Secretariat, sources in Trincomalee said.

Tamil residents in Muthur town urged Mr. Akashi to visit Vaharai where thousand of Tamil civilians displaced from LTTE held territory Muthur east and Eachchilampathu have sought refuge following military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

Mr Akashi assured them that he will take steps to address the needs of the refugees.

Tamil residents of Muthur also appealed to Akashi to dissuade the Government of Sri Lanka from constructing a coal power plant in Sampoor in Muthur east, sources said.

Muslim residents wanted the Muthur town to be declared a peace zone.