Batticaloa-Amparai News in Brief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 June 2003, 15:20 GMT]
Batticaloa-Colombo train service to resume after a false start, new library for Batticalo Town to be opened on Saturday and suspension of bus service to Kannakipuram in Ampara district causes severe hardships to residents of the impoverished village.

Batticaloa-Colombo train service to resume

The Batticalo-Colombo train service is to resume again on 16 June, said Alizahir Moulana, advisor to the Policy and Planning Minstry of the Government of Sri Lanka, sources in Batticaloa said.

The service was resumed on the 12 April after a lapse of seven years by Tranportation Minister Mr. Upali Piyasoma but was immediately suspended following a derailment.

Mr. Moulana assured that work has now been fully completed and has passed inspection of technical experts.

On 31 October 1996, following a land mine explosion derailed a train transporting goods, train service on the Polannaruwa-Batticaloa line was suspended. Railway tracks and sleepers on a 50 km stretch from Punanai to Batticaloa were used by the security forces to reinforce and build checkpoints and observation posts. The presence of railway track was completely erased from that region. Material was allegedly sold for profit also.

Batticaloa new library to be opened on Saturday

Judge of Batticaloa High Court, S. Paramarajah will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony, Saturday 4pm, of the new library built by the Batticaloa Municipal Council, sources said.

District's Assistant Commissioner and Professor of Literature S.E.Kamalanathan will participate as special guests during the opening ceremony, sources added.

Bus service to Kannakipuram suspended

More than 12,000 residents of Kannakipuram village in Ampara district have been severely affected by the suspension of the bus service to the village by the Transport officials, sources said.

The suspension of bus service from Akkaraipattu to villages of Kannakipuram, Mahasakthikiramam, Panangadu and Kolavil force the villages to walk nearly 6km to board a bus to get their daily provisions, according to residents of these villages.

Residents complain that the muslim parliamentarians are neglecting the welfare of Tamil villages.