Akashi pays visit to Manik Farm

Japanese Special Envoy, Yasushi Akashi paid a visit to Vavuniya where he met the civilians, who had escaped from LTTE-held areas yesterday.

Akashi was accompanied by Japanese Embassy officials, during his visit to Manik Farm Centre for internally discalced persons and gave a hearing to their grievances informed, source said.

The civilians sheltered in the farm related their difficulties they had undergone in the LTTE held areas, where they were kept as human shields.Meanwhile the World Food Program (WFP) has commenced distribution of essential food items among displaced.Around 120,000 civilians who have been affected as a result of LTTE atrocities will receive the WFP assistance, sources said.