Inefficient relief action adds to refugees woes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 16:35 GMT]
More than twelve thousand people in Verukal and Eachchilampattu areas in Trincomalee are undergoing immense suffering due to the negligence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Government Agent (GA) for Trincomalee, Maj. Gen. T. T. R. D. E. Silva, in carrying out flood relief work. The GA is insisting on employing the service of SLA troops and police to carry out the relief work, normally done by civil administrative officials, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian K. Thurairatnasingam accused Thursday.

“No relief has been provided for Verukal and Eaechchilampattu areas which have been cut off from Trincomalee and Batticaloa due to the continuing rains.

“The co-operative shop in Eeachchilampattu is submerged in water. Though the goods have been saved from being damaged, the stock is hardly sufficient to meet the urgent and extensive needs.

“The request made to use helicopters in the relief work assisted by civil officials has been rejected by the Military GA in Trincomalee," the MP said.

“More than 12 thousand people in 23 villages are completely cut off from the outside and relief to them is denied despite the particulars of them and their plight have been given to the GA who maintains that relief is being provided by the SLA.

“Relief work is not being conducted in a prudent and effective manner,” Thurairatnasingam said.