Rs. 150m allocated to provide relief to people of Muttur

The Government has allocated Rs. 150 million to provide relief to people displaced in Muttur owing to terrorist attacks and ensure their safe return to their homes.

Minister A. H. M. Fowzie who co-ordinates and oversees the relief programme told a media briefing in Parliament yesterday that the Government has taken steps to fulfil the necessities of the 40,000 displaced persons.

Around Rs. 2.5 million has already been allocated to provide food to the displaced who are presently accommodated in the Kinniya, Kantale and Negombo areas.
Addressing the conference convened by Government Ministers representing the Muslim community, Fowzie said that the resettlement of the displaced in Muttur and the reconstruction of the Muttur area damaged by LTTE will commence within one month.

"We hope to complete all reconstruction and resettlement and resettlement activities within six months.

Under the programme, the damaged houses in Muttur will be repaired together with the hospital and schools which were partially destroyed by the terrorist attacks," he said. The Minister said that the Government will set up special security posts at identified spots in Muttur to protect the people from possible LTTE attacks.

According to him, several Middle East countries have already expressed willingness to provide assistance to rebuild Muttur. The Government has made available free bus and boat services to the displaced to facilitate their return to their areas.

Minister A. L. M. Athaullah said that the LTTE attacks on Muttur were planned, pre-meditated and had nothing to do with the Mavilaru issue.