Eastern Army Commander Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya was optimistic that people in the east would get a chance to elect their public representatives shortly after flushing out the LTTE within the next few days.
The Major General told journalists on Thursday they would clear the east of Tiger terrorists now confined only to the Thoppigala area.
He made these comments amidst widespread speculation about some political parties laying ground work for a provincial council election in the east soon.
The government had completed the resettlement of internally displaced persons in the recently captured Vakarai area situated north of Batticaloa.
The resettlement of around 15,000 persons was done covering 11 Grama Seva divisions, and civil administration was carried out as usual.
233 Brigade Commander Lt. Col. W.A.V. Anura Sudasinghe said the Divisional Secretariat, the bus depot and the Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society had commenced work now.
He said the hospital was also functioning with a residential doctor. In addition, academic activities are carried out at 11 out of 12 schools in the area. Three main post offices were also functioning at present.
Commenting on the difficulties faced in the resettlement process, the top ranking military officer said the de-mining of landmines and the bad weather prevalent in the area were among their biggest challenges.
He said they were able to de-mine over 5000 anti-personal bombs in the process.
“There were heavy mine fields. We have almost cleared the area of landmines,” he said.
The military cited the damage caused to various properties by fleeing LTTE cadres as a hurdle in the resettlement of persons. As for transport facilities, 11 buses operate to and from Vakarai.
The media tour had been organized by the Government’s Information Department to observe the progress of the resettlement process.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/05/12/news/3.asp)
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