SLA gathers population, employment data

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 February 1999, 20:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) informed the fishermen's co-operative Societies of Maamunai, Sembiyanpattu, Nagar Kovil East and Nagar Kovil North this morning that they should immediately provide statistics about the population and employment in their areas.

The Societies were told to turn up with the information around 10.30 a.m. at the Nagar Kovil SLA camp today.

The presidents as well as the secretaries of these Societies were asked to come for the meeting.

Local Government officials in the area said that the army is trying to assess the correct population and employment figures in those parts of Vadamaradchi east which are not under the control of the SLA with a view to preventing relief supplies from going to the Liberation Tigers.

The SLA claims that small Tiger groups are still active on the Southeastern coast of the Jaffna peninsula.

The SLA ordered village officers (Grama Sevakas) in the same parts of Vadamaradchi east on February 3 to provide the same information about population and employment in their divisions.

The instructions issued to the Fishermen's societies today is meant to double check the statistics given earlier by the village officers said informed residents.