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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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PM visits Jaffna to assess damage caused by tidal wave by Rohan Mathes reporting from Jaffna Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse assures that all tsunami tidal wave victims in the country would be on a level playing field, with respect to the relief assistance provided by the government. t a media briefing in Jaffna by a high-level government delegation headed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse last Thursday, Mahinda Rajapakse said, "as the tidal wave itself was no respector of persons in its behaviour, so will be the government in its provision of essential needs and relief assistance to the victims. he North, South, East and West is all disaster stricken. The government will act in the same manner for all". he Premier briefed the press after a historic and sucessful tour of Jaffna, to assess the damage and devastation caused by the tidal wave and attend to the grievances of the victims, by the government delegation which included Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Susil Prema Jayantha, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Dilan Perera, JVP stalwart and Parliamentarian Vimal Weerawansa and Provincial Councilor N. Fowzie among others. ajapakse after ascertaining the wanton damage caused by the 'tsunami', discussed with the Jaffna Government Agent (GA) C.Pathmanathan, government officials in the area and three Armed Forces chiefs, what steps could be taken to minimise and mitigate the horrendous effects of the 'tsunami' on the victims. At the deliberations, the Premier agreed to enhance the payment granted as funeral expenses, from Rs 2000 to Rs.10000 per each dead person, as is the practice in the South. ith the active co-ordination of the Jaffna GA, Cooked food was to be supplied to the displaced persons within their refugee camps itself, thus minimising wastage. A mobile medical service inclusive of the required cadre of doctors, other health staff and medicines were to be supplied soon. ew cloths were to be purchased from Colombo and despatched to the North for the displaced persons in the camp. t was decided to arrange with the relevant officials, a mechanism to issue temporary Identity cards to the largest sector of the community who were fishermen and had lost their identity cards by the calamity, depriving them of their livelihood. amaged roads were to be repaired and power was to be restored. Schools, factories, Kovils and churches damaged were to be renovated. |
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