Vavuniya prepares welcome for LTTE members

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 March 2002, 15:36 GMT]
Members of the Liberation Tigers' political wing will arrive in Vavuniya on Friday to begin work in the northern town, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement signed by the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE. The eight-member team will be welcomed by the public at Omanthai, civilian sources in Vavuniya said.

The LTTE team which is expected to arrive at Omanthai around 10 a.m. and will be taken in a procession to Vavuniya town hall. A ceremony has been organised to welcome the LTTE members, the sources said.

The LTTE members are expected to address a meeting at the town hall, explaining the current political situation, according to the sources.

Also in the eastern Batticaloa district, several posters have been put up on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee main road, welcoming LTTE members into the areas held by the government troops. Sources in Batticaloa said posters have been put up at Sithaandy, Korakallimadhu and Vantharumoolai.

Seventeen LTTE members are expected to visit government controlled areas of the Batticaloa district, the sources said.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka's minister for Minister of the Estate Infrastructure and Housing Development Mr.Armukam Thondaman visited Pulipaainthakal, a village in the LTTE held region in the eastern Batticaloa district to participate in the foundation laying ceremony of a housing scheme in the village.

Addressing at the ceremony, the Minister said the cease-fire agreement signed by the Sri Lanka Government and the Liberation Tigers has given a chance to carry development and reconstruction work in the LTTE held region.

"A school, hospital and post-office are to be constructed in this village in addition to one-hundred houses for the poor in this village. Another 50 houses will be built at Kaalaipottamadhi in the Manmunai-west. Such development work can be continued in this region if a permanent peace is achieved in his country," the minister said.

The Minister arrived Batticaloa Thursday morning and crossed to LTTE held region through Kaavathaimunai SLA sentry post. The villagers of Pulipaainthakal received the Minister. He attended a Pooja at the local Hindu temple. Batticaloa Government Agent and other government officials participated in the ceremony.