SLN rescues 43 people

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Last morning the Sri Lanka Navy deployed in Pulmoddai, South of Mullaitivu rescued 43 people belonging to 11 families, Commander Mahesh Karunaratne, Acting Media Spokesman of the Sri Lanka Navy told the Sunday Observer.

The patrolling SLN crafts in the seas off Pulmoddai rescued them when they were escaping in two fibre glass dingy boats, from the uncleared areas in Mullaitivu. There were 12 boys, 4 girls, 13 women and 14 men, Navy sources said.

Of the recently escaped people from uncleared areas, 2,254 belonging to 837 families are in Vavuniya at present, Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services stated. The number of people is increasing daily as there is a considerable influx into the cleared areas.

In Jaffna 1,844 people belonging to 631 families are seeking refuge, District Secretary (GA) K. Ganesh said. According to him, 4 welfare centres have been set up in Kopai, Mirusuvil, Kodikamam and Gurunagar to accommodate them. Kopai Centre shelters 438 people, Mirusuvil 1,214, Kodikamam 125 and Gurunagar 67.

“We have already taken steps to resume children’s education using the existing facilities in the Kopai area. Up to date Mirusuvil centre holds 320 children - the highest number so far recorded. Hence, we are planning to make special arrangements for these children to be looked after,” Ganesh added.

Dry rations are provided with cooking utensils along with the facilities to cook their meals.

“Rather than providing them with cooked meals, as we did initially, it is best to let them cook their own meals in the way they want,” he further said explaining the present developments.