Web posted at UTC 2244 [1844] on 30 December 2004

     LTTE propaganda machine, in what confirmed to be an orchestrated move to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka as well as the Security Forces, has lashed out a barrage of concocted and malicious stories and grapevine at the expense of suffering caused to Tamil civilians in the north and east following the tsunami disaster.

   The latest LTTE strategy to this effect, evidently to hide the enormous extent of damages inflicted on LTTE Sea Tiger bases and LTTE cadres in general in Mullaitivu, Chalai, Championpattu and Alampil areas, has been launched in order to keep relief workers from entering LTTE-held areas lest such visits would enable them to be acquainted with exact circumstances and ground realities that prevail.

   The LTTE move was also meant apparently to project the world that those Tamil refugees are purposely discriminated and not provided adequate state relief supplies but facts speak for themselves. A breakdown of the fleet of vehicles that carried relief items to the North, Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas across Muhamalai and Omanthai Entry/Exit points during past two days proved the contrary, for example.

   Seventy (70) northbound vehicles with relief materials from the south and another fleet of one hundred and twenty one (121) from cleared northern areas through the Muhamalai Entry/Exit point made their way into un-cleared areas for distribution. Similarly, three hundred and nine (309) vehicles laden with relief items proceeded to un-cleared areas across the Omanthai Entry/Exit point during the same two-day period after the disaster struck. In addition, all state relief items sent there have been handed over to Jaffna Divisional Secretary for distribution in Jaffna peninsula and other un-cleared areas.

   Despite all those measures hitherto taken by the Government and other Non-Governmental Organizations to ease immediate burdens of the tidal wave affected masses, the LTTE had e-mailed or distributed literature among the international community calling for dispatch of relief aid directly to the LTTE instead, but not through the Government of Sri Lanka. The LTTE propaganda mill was reportedly further burning midnight oil to attribute reasons for their appeal to “so-called” atrocities being committed by Members of the Security Forces when relief stocks to the north-east are transported, which was in a way self-explanatory, proved by above facts.

   As late as Thursday (30) afternoon, LTTE men pounced on another lorry load of relief items in Vavuniya carried by a state agency and forcibly emptied it inside an LTTE office after taking the vehicle away. Again, Security Forces on Wednesday (29) had to reluctantly mediate to get the release of some other relief-carrying lorries of a private media institute in Trincomalee after LTTE men forcibly emptied contents and set the lorries free. Notwithstanding those moves, a Russian rescue team bound for un-cleared areas was unexpectedly refused entry by LTTE Wednesday (29) morning when they arrived at Omnathai LTTE checkpoint, regardless of their commitment to serve Tamil refugees in Wanni. Strangely enough, the incident at Velvettiturai Puloly Vidyalaya on Thursday (30) where journalists and a parish priest were beaten and chased by LTTE mobs was another endorsement of their continuing obduracy to face realities. (See separate story) Another desperate LTTE move on Thursday was a meeting in Kilinochchi summoned by them, designed to discuss the so called “ LTTE strategy for distribution of relief materials” where LTTE had insisted all aid should be chanelled only through them after ordering some officials to comply with.

   LTTE men, as evident through all those ruthless measures and how they behave at this hour of grief with least regard to human suffering in the north & east, point to the fact that LTTE men are more interested in their own egoistic “liberation” rather than liberation of the Tusnami affected common masses, now sheltered in hundreds of public places in the north & east of Sri Lanka. (Full report in Sri Lanka Army).

LTTE MOBS BAR TSUNAMI REFUGEES FROM TALKING TO TOP-LEVEL MINISTERIAL DELEGATION

HUNDREDS OF LORRIES WITH RELIEF ITEMS PROCEED TO THE NORTH

http://www.army.lk/Sitrep/2004/12/29_0815.htm  

   No other occurrence in the contemporary history of Sri Lanka except Sunday’s massive natural disaster that claimed over 15,508 human lives within minutes united the whole nation of Sri Lanka under one umbrella irrespective of ethnicity, religion, language, caste or creed.

By Wednesday (29) morning, a fleet of 64 lorries packed with essential relief items from Jaffna entered the un-cleared areas across the Muhamalai entry/exit point in the North. Of them over fifteen lorries contained essentials dispatched by the government’s Divisional Secretary for Jaffna for the use of refugees now housed in public buildings in un-cleared areas.

   The northern sea port of Kankesanthurai on Wednesday morning received a ship loaded with relief items sent from the government of Sri Lanka but damages caused to the harbour premises and the dockyard have hampered and delayed its unloading work.

   Troops on Tuesday morning handed over 150 gunny bags of rice to the Vadamarachchi North Assistant Divisional Secretary Mr. S. Wasantha Kumar for distribution. Another stock of 162 gunny bags of rice were delivered to the Assistant Divisional Secretary for Vadamarachchi South and West by the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna.

Troops after recovering huge stocks of gold and other valuables in Manalkadu areas after tidal waves buried villagers alive, handed over them to Rev. James Nathan, Pastor, Manalkadu church on Tuesday (28) morning.

The 53 Division Headquarters meanwhile donated 40 gunny bags of rice for the use of refugees now housed inside the welfare center at Varani central college on Tuesday after nearly 125 families were evacuated by troops.

A stock of over 10,000 loaves of bread airlifted by Sri Lanka Air Force were also distributed among those receiving medical treatment at Jaffna teaching hospital on Tuesday after the tsunami waves struck them.

    On a directive made by Her Excellency President Chandrika   Bandarnaike Kumaratunge , Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna Major General S.D.Tennekoon handed over essentials worth over Rs. one million to the Jaffna Divisional Secretary (DS) Mr. S Padmanadan on Tuesday morning at the DS’s office in Jaffna.

Those items are to be delivered among those displaced in un-cleared areas of Palai. Those essentials contained 5000 kg of rice, 1000 kg of dhal, 100 kg of sugar, 1000 sarongs, 500 sarees, 500 children clothes, 1000 mats, plastic plates and cups, canned fish, soya meet, tea powder, chillies, coriander, milk powder, etc.

Mr. Ganesh, DS for Vavuniya, with the help of troops have during past two days dispatched 65 lorries and vehicles with relief items (as of 29 December noon) to the un-cleared areas of Wanni via Omanthai Entry/Exit points.

Meanwhile, reports reaching here confirmed that the A – 9 Jaffna bound road has become congested with traffic carrying relief items beyond Vavuniya. By Wednesday afternoon a total of about sixty lorries packed with relief items are on their way towards Vavuniya, according to Police reports.

---

Sri Lanka President met with tsunami effected displaced people in Trincomalee and Kalmunai - President Chandrika Kumaratunga visited the Trincomalee and Kalmunai on Thursday 30th to meet the victims of the tidal wave and to inspect the damage to property. Sri Lankan President visited the Vivekananda School where several displaced people are housed. Among others President was received at this center by two female cadres LTTE , who welcomed her with warm handshakes. President stopped for awhile and talked with them. The President then talked to the people housed there, most of who were fisher folk who had lost their dwellings and boats. The President assured them the government would assist them to rebuild their lives and that within two months they would be provided alternate housing and boats.  The President also discussed with doctors who were present and inquired whether the medical needs were adequate. She directed Minister Maithripala Sirisena and the Trincomalee GA Gamini Rodrigo to assess their needs and ensure supplies (Full report in Asian Tribune).

`LTTE playing double game on aid’ - Janaka Perera – Reporting from Colombo, Sri Lanka - Government sources today expressed serious concern over the LTTE’ disinformation campaign abroad while offering to cooperate with Colombo on assisting tsunami victims in the North. The Tigers had made video and audiotapes to project a distorted picture of the aid issue Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle alleged.  All Sri Lankan diplomatic missions have been instructed to clarify to foreign governments and the public the factual situation on the distribution of available disaster aid. President Kumaratunga has already briefed foreign envoys here on steps being taken to provide relief assistance to victims in all parts of the island without any discrimination. She thanked all countries and international organizations for the aid given to Sri Lanka to overcome the crisis. The President also thanked the Opposition and other political parties for the cooperation extended to the government on this matter.  Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena said today that the LTTE had seized five lorries carrying relief supplies and released the occupants. This morning she went to the Katunayake International Airport to supervise the distribution of aid to the respective districts affected by the disaster (Full report in Asian Tribune).

LTTE ATTEMPTS TO FISH IN TROUBLED WATERS BROUGHT TO NOTICE 

http://www.army.lk/News_Reports/2004/December/291.htm

JVP relief to LTTE-held areas - Tigers claw the hands that help  

http://www.island.lk/2004/12/31/news1.html

Hot on the heels of Wednesday’s seizure of nine lorry loads of relief supplies in Trincomalee, the authorities have reported several similar cases in areas ravaged by Sunday’s Tsunamis.

Security authorities said that they received complaints from relief workers both from the government and the private sector, including organizers of the Sirasa Shakthi Sahana Yatra.

The military said that the LTTE targeted the Sirasa Shakthi Sahana Yatra on Wednesday morning. "Tigers managed to seize eight lorries. They returned them after emptying them of the relief meant for the victims," a senior army officer said. There was no need to seize supplies as the government was in the process of moving essential items to areas held by the LTTE, he said.

"We have also offered to deploy personnel in their areas to speed up humanitarian work," he said. The LTTE is yet to respond to the government’s offer.

But the government had begun sending supplies to LTTE-held areas, the sources said, adding that a vessel carrying more supplies had reached the KKS harbour. But unfortunately the damages caused to the KKS harbour had hampered the unloading of supplies.

According to the military, the LTTE had demanded that food and all relief supplies should be handed over to them for distribution under their supervision. The sources said that people of Mahindapura and Kallar abandoned their efforts over a dispute with the LTTE.

The LTTE hadn’t even allowed Tamil civilians to transport supplies to Tiger-held areas. The LTTE had also prevented the displaced Tamils from moving into government-held areas in the north-east provinces.

Meanwhile the JVP had begun relief work in the north-east including LTTE-held areas. JVP MP Ramalingham Chandrasekaran yesterday told The Island, that he, accompanied by Trincomalee district MP Jayantha Wijesekera, took a large stock of supplies to the needy in the Tiger-held areas including Verugal. "We took 15 lorry loads of supplies," he said, adding that they also held a medical camp at the Valaichenai Hindu College on Thursday.

He appreciated the LTTE’s willingness to accept their help but expressed concern over what he termed its terror tactics. According to him, a group of LTTE cadres had abducted a Tamil youth near the Valaichenai Hindu College on Thursday. "The victim’s mother told me this. This shouldn’t have happened," he said, urging the LTTE to cease aggressive acts and allow the government and relief agencies, both local and foreign to assist the communities devastated by Sunday’s sea-borne terror. But unfortunately the people were being unmercifully treated by the LTTE", he said, expressing the belief that the international community would pressure the LTTE to accept the government’s help.

---

TNA refused to deal with relief and rehabilitation efforts - revealed President Chandrika
Rajpal Abeynayake - Reporting for Asian Tribune from Sri Lanka

“The relief effort is under control even if there maybe minor shortcomings,’’ said Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge addressing a press conference in Colombo on Thursday evening.

She said “I have formed a Special Task Force to deal with the relief and rehabilitation efforts and invited all political parties to participate. However the TNA refused.” The TNA (Tamil National Alliance) represents the LTTE in parliament.

The President said however that she also “invited the LTTE, and though the LTTE has not abruptly refused to participate as the TNA has done -- we are still awaiting the LTTE’s response.”

She refuted vehemently the allegations that the Sri Lankan government is not providing relief to LTTE areas, and provided, upon questioning, photocopies to all journalists of relief that has been sent to Mullathivu , Killinochi., which are areas under LTTE control.’’

She however also expressed some confusion that the list about Vavuniya - -and asked her advisors ‘’how did relief go to Vavuniya -- there is no sea there?’’

The list contained in metric tons quantities of rice dhal sugar wheat flour etc., sent to disaster affected areas. She said ‘’these are quantities over and above the normal supplies sent to LTTE effected areas.’’

The President implied that she is hopeful that there will be some sort of rapprochement with the LTTE (“we’ll see’’ she said) due to the solidarity that is building considering the enormity of the conflict.

Asked whether, considering that this is the worst ever human disaster in the country’s history, she would invite Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE leader, to map out responses to the disaster, she said ‘’well we have invited them (LTTE) for the disaster committee deliberations - - we will see whether they come, and then we can see (about the summit.)’’

She also said that television channels rumor mongering with so-called expert inputs about a tsunami occurring in January will be taken to task.

When asked the question about these television channels pointedly, she said “they will be hung’’ if they continue this kind of rumour mongering ‘’and I will use the death penalty first one them.’’

She said: “this worst thing that cam is done to panic people in this way when they are traumatized.’’

When asked whether there is any possibility of war resuming, she said ‘’I do not think so - - the situation has changed after December 26th because the LTTE has been badly effected (by the tsunami).’’

She said that rehabilitation will be a considerable problem, but expressed hope that people can rebuild their lives as the billions of aid necessary is flowing into the country.

But, with regard to a question on why there was no early warning regarding the tsunami even though there was an earthquake monitoring system in the country, she said that the earthquake detection equipment was archaic, but blamed the opposition for stalling a National Disaster Management Task Force and Plan that she originated.

“They stopped this program and the funding for it when they were elected,’’ she said.

The opposition United National Party was in power for a period of two years before the President’s party was able to form a government this year.

Striking a personal note, she said the tsunami’s impact was serious and has caused much human suffering.

She added ‘there was a pretty Tamil girl who had been orphaned, whom I saw in Trincomalee and I even thought of adopting her myself but then …. I thought I would wait ....’’ and her voice trailed off.

She said, however, she shook hands with two LTTE cadres (girls) who were helping out at one of the disaster struck areas earlier in the day when she visited Trincomalee.

(Full report in Asian Tribune).

---

Rapid aid flow to North-East : Special instructions from President Kumaratunga

by Ranil Wijayapala

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/30/new01.html

Disaster affected people in the North-East including those in the LTTE-controlled areas have been supplied with humanitarian assistance under the special instructions of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Presidential Secretariat sources said yesterday.

Secretary to the President W.J.S. Karunaratne in a letter addressed to the LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P Thamilselvan has also conveyed the message that all Government services are available for deployment in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in the same manner as for all other affected parts of the country, Secretariat sources added.

Director General of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala has conveyed this offer of Government assistance to S. Puleethevan, Secretary General of the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

The Presidential Secretary in his letter has also invited the LTTE to participate in a high level coordinating committee that President Kumaratunga has established to ensure prompt and effective delivery of relief services.

President Kumaratunga has given special instructions to allocate Rs.70 million for the disaster affected districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya in the North and Trincomalee and Batticaloa in the East.

According to statistics 13,930 deaths were reported from the North East alone and more than 175,640 people have been displaced.

All Government Agents in their capacity as Competent Authorities have been empowered to spend these funds according to the needs of the people affected by Sunday's disaster.

The assistance in the form of rice, dhal, clothing, bed sheets, tents, cooking equipment and drugs have already been transported to the affected areas in the North-East including the districts of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

UN agencies including UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO and the ICRC are assisting the government in its relief efforts in the North-East.

A greater part of the medical supplies received and foreign doctors from India, Russia, France and Israel have been sent to the North-East last morning, the Secretariat said.

"Requests from the LTTE Development Secretariat for assistance are being met by the government," the Presidential Secretariat added. Additional Secretary to the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Refugee Ministry A.C.M. Razik told the Daily News that huge stocks of sugar and dhal were transported to the North East.

A total of 2189 MTs of sugar and 383 MTs of dhal has already been dispatched to the districts of North East, Razik added. The areas will also get 1705 MTs of rice. He said the Ministry was obtaining information from the respective Government Agents.

Meanwhile, Military Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has given special instructions to the Security Forces to provide humanitarian assistance to LTTE controlled areas in coordination with the North East Governor Tyronne Fernando.

Eastern Province DIG Neville Wijesinghe told the Daily News yesterday that the people in refugee camps have commenced returning their homes by yesterday.

He said the people from the uncleared areas in the East have also reached Government controlled areas in search of assistance.

---

Servicemen, policemen donate blood for LTTE-held areas

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/30/new154.html

The service personnel of the three Armed Forces and the Police who were engaged in relief work in the tidal wave affected areas of Kilinochchi have donated 400 pints of blood for the benefit of the Tamil victims, states Mullaitivu District Secretary.

The District Secretary disclosing this fact at a SLBC media conference praised this as a highlight of magnanimous humanism and said that out of this quantity of blood 24 pints were despatched to Kilinochchi and 80 pints to Pudukudiruppu Hospital while about 300 pints were retained in Vavuniya.

This blood donation will benefit the victims of the LTTE controlled areas, he said. According to reports, there are many LTTE cadres among the victims of the tidal wave disaster.

---

Tigers pounce on Sirasa relief

http://www.island.lk/2004/12/30/news1.html
by Shamindra Ferdinando

The LTTE yesterday seized a large stock of supplies meant for the people displaced by Sunday's tsunami in the Trincomalee district, officials said.  LTTE cadres had seized lorry loads of supplies after threatening representatives of the MTV, security officials said. "They released the lorries after emptying them," an MTV source said, adding that they had taken supplies in 16 trucks to Trincomalee.  "We reached Trincomalee in the early hours of Wednesday. They got in touch with us and requested us to bring the lorries to the nearby St. Joseph's College," the source said. According to an organizer of the Sirisa Sahana Yatra, LTTE cadres had identified themselves as representatives of a Non Governmental Organization operating in the east. "They fooled us," he acknowledged, adding that as soon as the lorries reached St. Joseph's College, they started unloading them. "They ignored our protests and emptied three lorries," he said, claiming the LTTE continued this even after the police had arrived. They had emptied several other lorries amidst efforts by the police and the Sirasa staff to save the supplies. The LTTE had returned the empty trucks. The organizers acknowledged that they had not obtained security clearance to take the relief supplies to the area. A senior military official said that the government welcomed the ongoing efforts by private organizations to help the displaced but they should not bring in supplies to the northern and eastern
provinces without informing the relevant authorities. 

Prime Minister in Jaffna – demostrations against JVP - Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and top Ministers visited Jaffna yesterday for an on-the-spot assessment of the tsunami disaster there but they were confronted in several areas by LTTE backed demonstrators protesting against the presence of JVP leaders in the delegation.  The demonstrators carrying sand-filled bottles and wooden poles with some women reportedly carrying broomsticks turned boisterous at times and a Rupavahini journalist accompanying the government delegation was injured while a camera belonging to a Daily Mirror journalist was damaged. When the delegation visited one refugee camp sheltering about 200 people, more than 50 demonstrators protested around the camp saying they did not want JVP leaders in Jaffna.  A spokesman for the demonstrators said they had no major problems with the Prime Minister or the Army but were opposed to the presence of the JVP.  The delegation included Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Susil Premajayantha, the JVP Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake and parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa. Later the JVP leaders were advised to use a helicopter while the others were taken in a motorcade (Full report in Daily Mirror).

Buddhist clergy invites LTTE for joint program to build 10,000 houses
http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/30/new32.html
by Chamikara Weerasinghe

Members of the Buddhist clergy yesterday invited the LTTE to join in a programme launched by them to build 10,000 houses destroyed in Sunday's tidal wave. The members of sangha made this invitation at a press conference held at the Asapuwa at Sulaiman Terrace, where they announced the launching of the program to build 10,000 houses for Tsunami victims. They called upon the LTTE to rally with them in this effort. Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera said that the natural disaster in the form of killer waves had punished a nation for being long divided among themselves. Explaining the program, Ven. Gnanananda Thera said they had established the Maha Karuna Foundation with a view to build houses for the affected. Ven. Pitiduwe Siridhamma and Kolonnawe Sumangala Theras were also present at the press conference. He also pleaded with religious missions not to make this disaster an opportunity to spread their religions. "Instead, I request members of all religious faiths to extend their loving kindness to the affected at this hour," he said. People can help us build 10,000 houses for the affected victims by making their contributions to Account Number 107 060 000 017 at Sampath Bank. Relief aid may also be given to Polgahawela Mahemevuna Asapuwa, Pittugala Amawatura Asapuwa, Maharagama Dharmayatanaya, Bellantara, Pannipitiya Devram Vehera, Sulaiman Terrace and Sambodhi Viharaya at Wijerama Mawatha. Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera speaking on this occasion said that they decided to build houses for the victims as it will deem to become one of the most important aspect of relief once the immediate relief measures have done its part. "We are ready to go with the alms bowl from house to house to collect what may be needed to carry out our project to help the affected," he said. "We expect the support of the LTTE since we plan to build houses for victims not only in the Southern regions, but also in Jaffna and other areas in the North-east," he said. Ven. Dhammaloka Thera asked the public skip one meal and spend it to help the Tsunami victims.

---

Batticalao Relief activities on track: Sinhala neighbours from Polonnaruwa district rushed with food assistance for their Tamil neighbours - S.Nagarajah – A special report to Asian Tribune - The Sri Lankan Government has sent a Deputy Minister to the Batticaloa District to take charge of the district coordination of relief activities for those affected by the Asian tsunami. It has also given an immediate allocation of ten million rupees for relief work in the disrict. This swift action follows allegations by the Tamil Members of Parliament belonging to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance that the Sri Lankan Government was not giving any assistance to tsunami victims in North East Sri Lanka and had given priority and prominence only to the victims in Southern Sri Lanka. LTTE front organisations in Europe, America and Australia engaged in collecting funds from Tamil expatriates have raised this issue of alleged discrimination as a major propaganda plank to boost their collections. Pro-LTTE radio stations, which are working round the clock to collect funds for the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation, are telling Tamil expatriates that the Sri Lankan Government is not providing any assistance to tsunami victims in the North East. According to a senior official at the Batticaloa Government Agent’s office, Deputy Minister Mr Dassanayake is expected to remain in Batticaloa to personally supervise and coordinate relief efforts. A relief committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Batticaloa Government Agent Mr.Shanmugam. It includes Members of Parliament, government officials, and representatives of the LTTE. Sufficient stocks of food and clothing have reached Batticaloa and are being distributed to tsunami victims. Medical teams have also been rushed to the Batticaloa hospital. A noteworthy feature of the relief work in Batticaloa is the spontaneous and immediate food assistance provided by Sinhalese residents living in the neighbouring Polonnaruwa district. It is said that Sinhalese traders and community organisations from Polonnaruwa rushed to the district with food assistance on hearing of the disaster to their Tamil neighbours despite fears of the anti-Sinhala LTTE. According to the Additional Government Agent, Batticaloa Mr.C.Punniyamoorthy, sixty thousand families have been displaced in the Batticaloa district. About twenty five to thirty thousand of the displaced families have lost their homes. Most of the affected families are refusing to get back to their villages and wish to be re-settled elsewhere. In any case, it is estimated that it would take another year or two until the affected areas are cleared and houses reconstructed. As an interim measure, plans are to be drawn up for the construction of temporary shelters to accommodate the displaced families. The confirmed death toll in the Batticaloa district is now put at one thousand five hundred and seventy-five with another six hundred reported missing and feared dead. Among the worst affected areas are the villages of Pasikudah, Navalady, Puthu Muhuthawaram, Thiruchendur, New Kattankudy, Palamunai, Periya Kallar, Periya Neelavanai, and Vaharai and other adjoining villages in the Vaharai Assistant Government Agent’s division (Full report in Asian Tribune).

---

North East continues to receive Tsunami relief - Since the disaster on Sunday the 26th of December the Government Agents of affected areas in the North and East were requested to asses the damage to life and property and estimate the immediate requirements of the people displaced by the tidal waves. The President directed that all Government Agents of the stricken districts be allocated Rs 10 million each for immediate relief efforts. The districts of Jaffna, Mullativu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya in the North and Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in East were granted a total of Rs 70 million. All GAs in their capacity as Competent Authorities were empowered to expend these monies according to the needs of the people affected by Sunday's tidal disaster.  Large stocks of sugar dhal and other essential requirements have already been dispatched to the North and East from Colombo, while the total requirements of rice will be purchased locally.  UN agencies including UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO and the ICRC are assisting the government in its relief efforts in the North and East (Full report in Asian Tribune).

Sri Lanka Leader Leaves Tsunami Meeting - Bodyguards whisked Sri Lanka's prime minister away from a meeting with ethnic-Tamil tsunami quake victims Thursday after some victims hit journalists and a soldier with wooden poles. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, four Cabinet ministers, military officials and a media contingent flew to the island's northern coast to inspect the devastation and speak to residents close to Valvedditturai, the home town of the leader of the Tamil rebels, Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The people were telling the prime minister their problems and what aid they needed when an announcement was made over a loudspeaker urging people not to interact with the prime minister, said an official with the group.  After hearing the call, the public got agitated and shouted "Get out ... We don't want your help."  Some members of the crowd then picked up wooden poles and bashed some journalists and a soldier.  Rajapakse and the other ministers were rushed to a nearby military base, the official said. The incident came a day after Prabhakaran made a rare personal appeal for international aid to help ethnic Tamils.  Prabhakaran has led a two-decade fight for a separate state for Tamils. The fighting halted after Norway brokered a truce in February 2002, but increasing tension between the government and the rebels in recent time has renewed fears of hostilities breaking out (Full report in Yahoo / AP).

Anandasangaree appeals to LTTE

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/31/sec01.html

I take this opportunity to appeal to the Leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to realise the seriousness of the situation and open its gates to the restricted areas under their control and allow free access to every organisation that volunteers to do relief work there - the Mullaitivu and the Point Pedro electorates in particular. It is no secret that the Mullaitivu and parts of the Point Pedro electorates have suffered heavy losses and there is undue delay in relief items reaching the unfortunate victims, said TULF President V. Anandasangaree. He said: "since the victims of the tidal waves had lost everything including there kith and kin delay should not occur in rushing their basic needs. More than anything else health is not only the major problem for the refugees it is the most urgent one as well". "Very many countries have already sent in their aid in various forms to meet the urgent needs of the victims. Further more over seven hundred foreign doctors has arrived and large stocks of medicine also have reached Colombo. The LTTE should go all out to get the assistance from anybody to see that sufficient number of Doctors, Medicines, food items for both adults and children and a substantial number of volunteers are sent to Mullaitivu and Point Pedro areas immediately. According to reports reaching Colombo these are the areas that are most neglected in the North." Due to our negligence the unfortunate refugees should not be deprived of what they are entitled to," he said.

No discrimination in disaster relief distribution - Prime Minister

Ranil Wijayapala reporting from Jaffna

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/12/31/politicslead.html

A ministerial delegation led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse including Colombo district UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday visited the disaster affected areas in the Jaffna peninsula and spoke to the affected people despite a protest campaign by certain groups allegedly instigated by the LTTE against the visiting JVP Ministers and MPs.

The Prime Minister during his visit assured the displaced people in Jaffna that there will be no discrimination by the Government in the distribution of relief for the affected people whether they are in the North or the South.

The people who lost their loved ones related their harrowing ordeal to the Prime Minister and the visiting Ministers and Deputy Ministers including Agriculture and Land Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Colombo district MP Wimal Weerawansa.

The Premier also visited Velvetithurai which is the home town of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran which was also ravaged by the tsunami waves and pledged to the people there, the maximum support to rebuild their devastated houses, schools and Hindu temples.

The refugees at the Puloly Maha Vidyalayam in Manthikai, instigated by a handful of persons alleged to be from the LTTE protested against the visiting Ministerial delegation thinking that Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and Wimal Weerawansa were there at the refugee camp.

The incident took place when the disaster affected people were sharing their grievances with the Premier and the Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Wimal Weerawansa accompanied by Minister Susil Premajayantha and Deputy Minister Dilan Perera visited the disaster affected people in Manalkadu area.

The Prime Minister instructed Jaffna GA S. Pathmanathan to pay Rs. 10,000 as funeral expenses for the death victims and pledged that the Government will provide assistance for the affected people.

He also instructed the Security Forces Commander and Naval Commander in Jaffna to provide the fishermen with licences as they have lost their identity cards following the disaster.

The Premier also said the district will be provided with mobile clinics for necessary medical assistance for the affected people.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Government officials participated at the discussion with the Premier at the Security Forces Headquarters in Palaly.

---

Sri Lankan President meets tsunami victims in Trinco and Amparai - President Chandrika Kumaratunga today is on a visit to Amparai and Trincomalee districts to meet personally with the tsumani victims and to console them as well as to find out personally requirements of the districts and to provide adequate relieves.  Yesterday she toured areas affected by the tidal wave in the Southern Province to assess the situation. The President first went to Yodhakandiya in the Hambantota district. She met the affected people and made inquiries about the situation with regard to distribution of food and essential needs. She also discussed with the doctors who were there about the immediate medical needs and if the facilities already provided were adequate and if there were any shortcomings. President Kumaratunga told the affected people the government will provide housing to those who lost their dwellings. She also said in the future as a safety measure construction of houses would not be allowed in areas close to the sea coast. President also visited the displaced now housed at Rahula Vidyalaya in Matara and inquired about their health. Ports, Airways and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Additional Secretary to the President Mr. P. Dissanayake accompanied President on this tour (Full report in Asian Tribune).

---

North East continues to receive Tsunami relief - Since the disaster on Sunday the 26th of December the Government Agents of affected areas in the North and East were requested to asses the damage to life and property and estimate the immediate requirements of the people displaced by the tidal waves. The President directed that all Government Agents of the stricken districts be allocated Rs 10 million each for immediate relief efforts. The districts of Jaffna, Mullativu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya in the North and Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in East were granted a total of Rs 70 million. All GAs in their capacity as Competent Authorities were empowered to expend these monies according to the needs of the people affected by Sunday's tidal disaster. Large stocks of sugar dhal and other essential requirements have already been dispatched to the North and East from Colombo, while the total requirements of rice will be purchased locally. UN agencies including UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO and the ICRC are assisting the government in its relief efforts in the North and East. On the day the tragedy occurred (Sunday 26th December), Doctors and ambulances were sent to Vavuniya. A greater part of the medical supplies received and foreign Doctors from India, Russia, France and Israel will be sent to the North and East on Wednesday 29th morning. The other districts will also be supplemented with the medical aid now being received from overseas, while some of the foreign Doctors will be assigned to those areas. Requests from the LTTE Development Secretariat for assistance are being met by the government. Parliamentarians of the North and East are also assisting the authorities with the relief efforts. University students, local residents as well as Sri Lankan military and police personnel are donating blood for casualties in the North (Full report in Asian Tribune).

---

Chandrika invites LTTE for disaster management; death toll 25,000 - Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga today invited all political parties, including the Tamil Tigers, to the disaster management committee meeting in the aftermath of the tsunami terror which killed over 25,000 in the country.  "I have invited all political parties for the National High Level Committee for Disaster Management Meeting to overcome this national disaster. I have invited the LTTE also to send its representatives," President Kumaratunga told journalists here. The President said the LTTE-backed four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which has 22 members in the 225-member parliament, has however refused to participate. "But the LTTE has not readily rejected it like the TNA. We are waiting for their response," she said. Special instructions have been given to send relief items to the LTTE-controlled areas, which has also been devastated by the tidal waves on Sunday, she added. The President said nearly 25,000 people have already been confirmed dead while 4,500 are still missing. She also said nearly one million people became refugees while 76,000 houses sustained complete damages (full report in Deepika Global).

NCP CM assures Vakarai victims of needs - North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake visited tidal wave victims from the LTTE controlled Vakarai area housed at the Manampitiya Tamil Maha Vidyalaya to look into their needs and made arrangements to provide uninterrupted supplies of dry food rations to them. Most of the victims thanked the Chief Minister for his concern regarding their welfare and told him that apart from a few meals supplied to them by some residents in the neighbourhood and the nearby police station, no one else came to their aid until the Chief Minister visited them. The refugees which included 13 children and 21 women among others describing their ordeal said the tidal wave was a novel experience to them. As the high waves surged forth the panic stricken people in their village ran further inland shouting in fear and as they reached the main road an on coming bus stopped and transported them to Manampitiya (Full report in Daily News).

---

Back to SPUR Latest News Page