Vakarai residents' living conditions improved- Director (Special Projects)

by Shanika Sriyananda

Patients seek treatments at a medical centre manned by military medical personnel.

A bowser replenishes a tank with potable water .

A SLTB bus unloading displaced persons, on their way home in Vakarai.

Normalcy has returned to the heavily disrupted day-to-day life in Vakarai, which has under the LTTE for years. Happiness is written on people's faces with the government's program, which has already resettled over 3,968 families who fled from Vakarai to Batticaloa.

Vakarai, which was in pitch darkness, is now illuminated for the first time in its history as the government has taken steps to provide electricity to the area. New power lines are erected giving electricity connections to all the government institutions. Street lamps are also under construction.

Under the rapid landmines clearing program in Vakarai, over 39 kilo meters of land has been cleared of landmines and another 12 kilo meters far from the areas, where the displaced families are re-settled, will be cleared with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army before the end of this month.

Over 15,000 displaced people, who fled to Batticaloa from Vakarai due to heavy fighting between the government troops and the LTTE, 13,661 people have now been resettled in Vakarai.

According to the Director Operations and Special Projects of the President's Secretariat Lalath Abeygunawardena, the displaced people have been resettled in 11 Grama Sevaka Divisions and the remaining displaced families will be given shelter in the two Grama Sevaka Divisions soon.

New Identity Cards will be issued to all refugees in Vakarai and over 7,497 IDs have been issued already.

Out of 11 schools, where the refugees were housed, seven schools have been re-opened with the commencement of the resettlement program. Necessary text books and school uniforms have been sent to Vakarai and other necessary requirements to begin studies have been provided.

"Vakarai hospital, which was heavily damaged, is functioning well with one medical doctor, six nurses and other minor staffers. Another doctor will be posted to the hospital soon", Abeygunawardena said.

The government institutions, including the Police Station, Divisional Secretariat and the army camps, are functioning, now.

Over 1,000 wells have been cleaned, 80 water tanks are fixed and three bowsers have been supplied to provide clean water to displaced people in Vakarai. Meanwhile, five irrigation tanks have also been rehabilitated.

According to Abeygunawardena, the 18 km stretch from Kainkarni Bridge in Vakarai to the 54th mile post has been repaired by the Road Development Authority and the remaining 16 km will be completed shortly.

Five buses are deployed to run between Vakarai and Valachchenai.

Meanwhile, equipment worth Rs. 6.5 million have been distributed among 213 fishermen in Vakarai to begin their livelihood.

"No shortage of food in Vakarai now. Two co-operative shops with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army have been opened and all the necessary dry rations are stocked in stores", he said.

Vakarai post office and two subpost offices in Kadiraweli and Palchena have been re-opened.

"The good news is that the government plans to celebrate the 'Sinhala Hindu New Year in Vakarai with the displaced families", Abeygunawardena said.