Sri Lanka Govt allocates 2m rupees for Trinco flood victims

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 December 2002, 03:53 GMT]
The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Minister Mr.Rauff Hakim Friday evening said at a conference held in Trincomalee that two million rupees would be allocated for providing relief to around thirty thousand families who have been affected by flood in the district.

"Social Services Ministry Secretary Ms J.F.Jegararajasingham has informed me that a sum of one million rupees has already been released and another million rupees would be sent to the Government Agent in the east port town by Monday," said Minister Rauff Hakim.




Minister Rauff Hakim addressing a conference in Trincomalee regarding relief to flood victims. ( L -R) Government Agent N.P.K.Nelumdeniya, M.S.Thouwfeek, Minister Hakim, and K.M.Thowfeek

Minister Rauff Hakim arrived by special Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter from Batticaloa and landed at Trincomalee McHeyzer Stadium Friday at around 4 p.m. Two SLMC parliamentarians K.M.Thowfeek and M.S.Thouwfeek, and Additional Secretary to the Eastern Development Ministry Mr.K.Shanmugalingam accompanied the minister.

Minister Hakim presided over a conference at the Trincomalee district secretariat attended by divisional secretaries and other officials connected with the distribution of relief supplies to flood affected victims. The Minister was told more than thirty thousand families were affected by the flood, and huts and several hundred cattle belonging to villagers were washed away by floodwater.

Minister Mr. Hakim then informed the officials to start relief work immediately to distribute cooked meals for the first three days and a dry ration for one week to victims who have been displaced from their dwellings due to flood. The Minister further said those affected economically due to flood would also be entitled for one week dry rations.

Minister Hakim added that the Eastern Development Ministry that come under him would help those villagers who lost their huts and cattle.