News in brief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 February 2003, 01:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers continue to collect information on residents in Jaffna peninsula, Mullaitivu administrative secretariat moves to its former home, and Oddusuddan school damages due to war is estimated to be Rs 5 lakhs.

SLA collects details of residents

In Kalvayal and surrounding areas in Thenmaradchy district, Jaffna peninsula, SriLanka Army (SLA) soldiers are approaching several residential developments and collecting details of residents, sources said.

Soldiers, sources say, are probing the residents to determine if any of their children have joined the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and if anyone had died in the battle.

Administrative secretariat moving back to Mullaitivu

Starting from next Wednesday, 12 Februaray, the Mullaitivu district administrative secretariat will start functioning from its premises in Mullaitivu town, sources said.

District Government Agent (GA), Emelda Sukumar said that funding required to renovate the new premises was obtained from non-Governmental sources. A foreign NGO donated Rs 15 lakhs, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization provided Rs 8 lakhs and another 7.5 lakhs were obtained from a Vanni multi-purpose fund. Government ministries have been provided with the details of funding needs, but we have yet to get any commitment of support from any of the Government ministries, the GA added.

The secretariat moved to Puthukudiyiruppu in 1990 when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA)occupied Mullaitivu and expanded its army camp.

Damages to Oddusuddan school estimated at Rs 5 lakhs

Oddusuddan Tamil mixed school officials said that school buildings and properties suffered damages estimated to be close to Rs 5 lakhs (Rs 500,000) due to 'Operation Rivi Bala,' a military operation launched on 6 December 1998 by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from Olumadhu to Oddusuddan to cut off access to LTTE cadres from Mullaitivu to Mankulam.

The school is currently functioning in a cramped temporary premises with 70 students and three teachers. Lack of space and scarcity of equipment and school supplies are limiting academic progress of children, school teachers said.