British High Commissioner in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 January 2000, 17:05 GMT]
The High Commissioner for Britain in Sri Lanka, Linda Duffield, visited Vavuniya Tuesday to assess the conditions of the families displaced by the war and presently living in welfare centres, said sources.

She met the officials of the UNHCR, ICRC, Population Services Lanka (PSL) - a local non governmental organisation, engaged in volunteer health services - and K.Ganesh the Government Agent and inquired about their services to the displaced.

K.Ganesh accompanied her to the welfare centres at Veppankulam 2 miles west and to Poonthoddam 3 miles east of Vavuniya town.

Displaced families at the welfare centre requested the High Commissioner to assist in the improvement of the sanitary conditions in the welfare centres as this aspect is deteriorating.

The displaced families told the High Commissioner that authorities have made arrangements to issue dry rations as relief instead of providing money paid in cash to them as requested so that they may purchase better food. They requested the British official to urge a change in this practice.

They also requested the British High Commissioner to provide exercise books and educational instruments to the school going children in the welfare centres.

Meanwhile about 800 civilians crossed the border between Sri Lanka Army and LTTE-held areas at Piramanaalankulam Tuesday, said government sources.

Government officials said that 297 civilians including 13 university students and 53 teachers travelled to the areas held by the LTTE, while 500 civilians were allowed to enter the SLA held areas in Vavuniya and Mannar district.

Although over 2000 civilians waited at the Pramanaalankulam SLA checkpoint only 500 were allowed to cross the border, civilians from the Vanni said.