2ND LEAD (CORRECTION)

SLA appropriates Vallai weaving centre premises in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 July 2010, 06:32 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials stopped Tuesday the initial efforts by Uduppiddi Welfare Society (UWS) and other public organizations to renovate Vallai weaving centre which had ceased to function for more than twenty years due to war, UWS representatives said. The organizations have decided to meet Friday to explore ways of overcoming the SLA obstruction, they further said.

SLA erected a notice board which said ‘This is SLA land’ suddenly when persons began cleaning the weaving centre site a few days ago with the intention of renovating the destructed weaving centre and SLA soldiers were posted on the site.

The cleaning work, however, was resumed on assurances by SLA officials and the inauguration of the renovation project was to be held Friday.

But on Tuesday SLA top officials who arrived at the site told that the Secretary of Defence Ministry had reserved this land to SLA and no one can claim it, UWS representatives said.

The above organizations were keen on renovating and reopening Vallai weaving centre as the war was over and with the possibility of creating job opportunities for local people as many abroad had come forward to invest in the venture.

This venture had been discussed with related government authorities and political leaders by the above organizations.

The SLA encroachment of the site claiming that it is government land has caused anger and frustration among the local people.

The organizations have decided to meet Friday to explore ways of overcoming the SLA obstruction, UWS representatives said.

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