SLA ban on cement spotlighted at Trinco tsunami event

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 April 2005, 01:18 GMT]
Speaking at a cultural event Wednesday organized by the Provincial Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs to mark the fourth month after tsunami disaster, Mr.Puratchi, Head of the Trincomalee District Students Front of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed ban on transporting cement, sand and other building materials to the LTTE controlled areas to rebuild houses destroyed in tsunami. NorthEast Province Governor, Mr.Tyronne Fernando, attended the event held in Trincomalee St.Joseph's College auditorium.



Section of participants

Puratchi speaking

"We thought that we could rebuild tsunami destroyed houses with World Bank aid but how to rebuild the lives of psychologically affected tsunami victims. Now we are even unable to rebuild the tsunami destroyed houses in the LTTE controlled area in the Trincomalee district due to cement ban," Puratchi said.

Earlier the Governor was taken to the venue with other education officials and Mr.Kishore Sivanathan, Vanni district parliamentarian holding lighted candles in their hands.

Mr.Tyronne Fernando said the northeast was the worst affected in December tsunami with two third of the loss of lives and properties in the entire country. Tsunami destroyed lives and properties without any difference to any communities. Tsunami has taught a good lesson and people should contribute to build a united nation, he added.

Welcome song

Mr.R.Thiakalingam, Provincial Education Ministry Secretary presided. Ms N.Srithevi, Provincial Assistant Director of Cultural Affairs proposed vote of thanks.

Mr.Sivakumar, LTTE Trincomalee town political head, Mr.S.Amirthalingam, Secretary to the Governor and senior education officers participated in the event.

Mr.Tyronne Fernando declared open the exhibition "Kadal Varaintha Oviankal (an artistic creation inspired by tsunami)" of the Centre for Performing Arts, Jaffna. Thereafter a dance in the dramatic form was staged by the Vavuniya Centre for Performing Arts.

A scene from the tsunami play by Vavuniya Centre for Performing Arts

(L-R) Mr.Kishore Sivanathan, Vanni district parliamentarian, Mr.Tyronne Fernando (Governor), Mr.Thiagalingam, Provincial Education Ministry secretary, Mr.M.K.M.Haniffa, Senior Assistant Secretary to the provincial education ministry