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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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All 'tsunami' victims would be treated equally - P.M. by Rohan Mathes reporting from Jaffna Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse assures that all 'tsunami' victims in the country would be treated equally with respect to the relief assistance provided by the government. At a media briefing in Jaffna by a high level government delegation headed by Prime Minister Rajapakse last Thursday, he said, "as the tidal wave itself was no respecter of persons in its behaviour, so will be the government in its provision of essential needs and relief assistance to the victims. The North, South, East and West are disaster stricken. The government will act in the same manner for all". The Premier briefed the press after a historic and successful 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 Premajayantha, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Dilan Perera, JVP stalwart and Parliamentarian Vimal Weerawansa and Provincial Councilor N. Fowzie among others. Rajapakse after ascertaining the 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. With the active co-ordination of the Jaffna GA, cooked meals will be supplied to the displaced persons in 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. New clothes were to be purchased from Colombo and despatched to the North for the displaced persons in the camp. It 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 cards. Damaged roads will be repaired and power will be restored. Schools, factories, kovils and churches damaged were to be renovated. "As a long-term plan, we will try to resettle the displaced victims soonest after the construction of new and suitable houses. Drinking water too will be supplied soon", Rajapakse noted. This tour to the North by the Prime Minister which was intended to build bridges and create goodwill among the ethnic communities of the country and the government in particular, was however slightly marred by a group of protesters alleged to be LTTEers. These protestors opposed the presence of the JVP in Jaffna. "The government will continue to provide relief and other facilities to the North despite any protests by the LTTE", Rajapakse added. |
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