"Tamil people will resist SLA takeover of Welfare Centers" -Colonel Soosai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 January 2005, 19:32 GMT]
''Our people will not accept the directive issued by Sri Lanka's President to hand over the management of Tsunami welfare centres in the government controlled areas in the northeast to the Sri Lanka Army,'' a defiant Colonel Soosai, Special Commander of the Sea Tigers, said at a conference held Thursday at the relief co-ordination office at Puththukattu junction area, sources said.

The Sri Lanka Government has not provided aid in a meaningful manner to our people affected by the natural disaster.

''We cannot accept the directive given by the Sri Lanka Government to the SLA to take over welfare camps at any stage, said Colonel Soosai.

Representatives of fisheries societies, heads of government departments and Tsunami Rehabilitation Task Force participated in the discussion, sources said.

LTTE deputy Political head Mr.S.Thangan, Thamileelam Educational Board head Mr.V.Ilankumaran, Jaffna district political head Mr.C.Ilamparithi Mr.S.Vijitharan of Thamileelam Administrative Division and the co-ordinator of the Task Force Mr.Baliah attended the discussion.

Colonel Soosai further said that Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and harbors in the south have sustained heavy damage in the Tsunami disaster.

Troops from several countries have arrived in Sri Lanka. The government is interfering with the management of relief centres in order to distract the attention of the international community. There is no reason for our people to get alarmed over the decision of the government to hand over the management of the welfare centres to State armed forces, said Colonel Soosai.

Special committee comprising government officials would assess damages caused to properties of the people due to Tsunami, said Colonel Soosai.