Civilians taken to welfare centres

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 December 1998, 19:37 GMT]
Arrangements are being made to transport nearly 750 civilians, who were in the Oddusuddan area when it was captured by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on Thursday, to the northern government held town of Vavuniya . They are currently staying in a Hindu Temple there.

According to defence sources, when the people who had lived in the LTTE held territory are brought into the government controlled area, they will be screened to prevent the possible infiltration of the Liberation Tigers.

Oddusuddan people also will be subjected to the same procedure, before they are sent to welfare centres in Vavuniya, the sources added.

Nearly 15,000 people who were displaced by the operation Rivi Bala had sought refuge in Puthukudiyeruppu areas in the Mullaitivu district, sources said.

According to reports reaching Vavuniya many displaced families are split and have sought help from the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) to trace relatives.

About 350 complaints have been made to ICRC officials in the area, requesting assistance to locate their missing relatives.

Meanwhile, many places in Vavuniya were cordoned off and searched jointly by the Sri Lankan Police and the Army today.

Kovilkulam, Sithamparapuram and Park road area in the town were searched by the security forces.