Harim Peiris, UPFA Minister visit Jaffna to view damages

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 December 2004, 12:18 GMT]
Mr.Harim Peiris, Presidential Advisor, accompanied by Mr.D.E.W.Gunasekara, Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, arrived in Jaffna Wednesday to see the devastation of the Jaffna peninsula after Sunday's Tsunami, political sources in Jaffna said.

Mr.Gunasekara visited government controlled areas from Valvettithurai to Manatkadu accompanied by the Government Agent of Jaffna and other officials.

Mr.Harim Peiris later visited LTTE controlled areas from Thalaiyadi to Maruthankerni and held discussions with the LTTE activists stationed there, sources said.

Later they addressed a press briefing at the Jaffna district secretariat. Minister Mr.Gunasekara said no discrimination would be shown in assisting the affected Tamil areas. Priority would be given to Tamil areas in rehabilitation. A master plan would be prepared to rehabilitate destroyed areas without any differences, said Mr.Gunasekara.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Wednesday sent an urgent message through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to join the National level Rehabilitation Bureau headed by her to reconstruct and rehabilitate Tsunami destroyed coastal areas of Sri Lanka. The message is to be delivered by the SLMM head Major General (retd) Trond Furuhovde to the LTTE political head Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, disclosed Mr.Harim Peiris, Presidential Advisor at a press briefing held at Jaffna district secretariat Wednesday evening, sources said.