Australian delegation visits Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 December 1998, 14:47 GMT]
Delegates from the Australian High Commission in Colombo visited Vavuniya on a fact finding mission today. They met the Government Agent of Vavuniya, Mr.K.Ganesh and other officials including the Human Rights Commission in Vavuniya, sources added.

Ms Dinoo Kellaghan, Dr.Pamela Gutman, Ms Jane Ogge the 3rd secretary and Brian Jeganathan, a research officer were among the delegation.

The delegation visited the refugee camps at Poonthoddam and at the Goodshed Road, Vavuniya.

Meanwhile 256 families have been displaced due to heavy rains in the Vanni. They have sought refuge in schools and places of worship, officials in Kilinochchi said today.

They said the displaced have ben provided with provisions for three days.

A request has been made to the Social Services Department of the North East Provincial Council for Rs.140,000 to provide further assistance to the displaced families, the officials added.

The dikes of Paalankulam and Maniyankulam have breached and roads have been washed away in three places between and Vannerikulam and Akkarayankulam bringing the food transport convoy to a halt for the last 3 days, they said further.