Jaffna picketers to demand reinstatement of relief supply

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 2004, 17:30 GMT]
The Consortium of Jaffna District Public Organizations (CJDPO) said in a memorandum sent to the Sri Lanka President's media spokesman and the Director General of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Ministry,Mr.Harim Peiris, that they would launch a picketing campaign in front of the Jaffna district secretariat crippling the civil administration if the government failed to supply free dry ration to all 128,582 families, civil sources said.

The CJDPO reminded Mr.Harim Peiris the assurance he gave in Jaffna when he paid a visit to the district that all 1,28,582 families would be provided with free dry rations without a cut.

"The authorities have not started distributing relief to these families as assured by you. The people are highly disappointed with the non-implementation of your assurance," the memorandum said.

The government has instructed its Jaffna district officials to distribute free dry ration to only 69,387 families, sources said.

Copies of the memorandum have been sent to Sri Lanka's President, Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, leaders of all political parties, LTTE political head, Jaffna district parliamentarians and heads of several international and local non-governmental organizations, sources said.