Reconstruction expedited in liberated East

by Anura Maitipe

The government has taken steps to expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure facilities at a cost of Rs 1,200 million in the liberated areas in the Eastern province, the Batticaloa District Civil Works Coordinating Secretary B. Perera told the Sunday Observer.

Vakarai, a remote village had no electricity in the past and providing electricity to Vakarai is now in progress. The lamp posts have already been installed from Batticaloa to Vakarai. Electricity will be provided to the people in the area within the next two weeks. The fishing community in the area will benefit by this project and they would be able to refrigerate the excess catch.

The rehabilitation of the main road from Batticaloa to Vakarai is also in progress. Over four bridges and 13 culverts will be constructed. People in Vakarai, Panchankeni, Vakaneri, Poonagar and Kokaweli will benefit with the completion of this road, he said. The government has already installed other key institutions such as the judiciary, police, schools, Post and Tele Communication service and hospitals in the area. According to the Mutur Divisional Secretariat over 6,813 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim families have been already re-settled in Mutur.

Meanwhile, the security forces have taken steps to tighten security in areas captured by the Army recently.

The Army and STF with the help of the police and home guards have re-established civil society in the area. Basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity, police stations, schools and postal services have been re-established in the area.

The Mine Clearing unit of the Army is clearing the captured areas for re-settlement of civilians. The Armed Forces have strengthened the Forward Defence Line in the area to provide maximum security to the people in the area.