Artillery induced vibrations damage Kalkuda houses

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 February 2000, 07:17 GMT]
Shocks due to artillery fire from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in Kalkuda, Batticaloa, are causing dangerous cracks to develop in houses around the area extending to Vaalaichenai, residents said.

Residents added that in several houses the walls are in danger of collapsing.

Kalkuda camp is situated along the sea coast, 2 km east of Vaalaichenai town. The camp encompasses a tourist guest house and a few houses located close to the junction.

Army personnel routinely undergo artillery and motor training in this camp, sources said.

Earlier, the guns were located in the 23-2 Brigade head quarters in the compound of Vaalaichenai Paper Mills, 2 km west of Vaalaichenai town, causing little inconvenience to residents.

The firing of artillery from the new location may also be hazardous to the health of pregnant women, the residents said.

Kalkuda residents have complained to Mr. Thurairajasingam, the MP for Batticaloa District.