Poonakari AGA office relocates documents due to SLA offensive

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 September 2008, 12:57 GMT]
Poonakari Assistant Government Agent’s (AGA) office which has been operating from Muddkompan due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling, is again moving important documents to Ki’linochchi Government Secretariat as SLA attacks on Muddkompan area have escalated, Poonakari AGA, Mr. Rajan, said.

Poonakari AGA office located in the centre of Poonakari town was first moved to Jeyapuram in 2006 due to SLA offensives and again to Muddkompan in August 2008.

Residents of 8 Village Officer (Grama Niladhari) divisions of the total 19 in Poonakari AGA division had been completely displaced due to SLA offensives in 2006.

Residents of Poonakari, Nalloor, Aalangkea’ni, Kollankurichchi, Kavuthaarimunai, Paraman Kiraay and Pa’l’likkudaa were displaced due to recent fighting, and most of them had sought refuge in areas including Muddkompan, Arasapuram, Chempankuntru.

Now since these places are also being targeted in SLA attacks the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in large numbers, are again fleeing the above areas where they had been temporarily sheltered.

People living in Muzhangaavil, Ira’naimaathaa Nakar, Naachchikkudaa, Kariyaalai, Nakavadduvaan and Jeyapuram and from eight other Village Officer divisions have been completely displaced due to sustained SLA offensives.

Fisher folk compose the majority in Poonakari AGA division. 400 families among these are from Naachchikudaa, 248 from Valaippaadu, and 210 from Ira’naimaathaa Nakar.

The fisher families engage in fishing in Chu’ndikku’lam, Vaddakkachchi, Paalaavi, Chemmpankuntru and Ma’npiddi areas even amidst continuing Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air force attacks, as relief rice given to the families are only 50% of the total need.

With the beginning of monsoon rains these families are experiencing immense hardships which have forced 63 families to move to places including Nalloor and Aalangkea’ni areas in Poonakari AGA division where they face the risk to their lives due to SLA offensives.

Moreover, important institutions including the post office, hospital, Multipurpose Society, Piratheasa Chapai, and Veterinary Surgeon’s office, in Poonakari have been forced to relocate in Ki’linochchi and neighboring areas.