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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

02nd June 2017 14:33:52 Hours

Army Troops Continue Major Roles in Post-Disaster Work

Tri service troops as well as different state agencies have stepped up the multiplicity of humanitarian roles, being performed in various relief centres in the post-disaster phase of the devastating floods.

Army troops of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), 14 Division Headquarters, 58 Division Headquarters, 141 Brigade, 142 Brigade, 581 Brigade, 582 Brigade and 583 Brigade as at present, together with different relief aid workers, including Navy and Air Force, are providing all possible assistance to the displaced staying at 208 temporary relief centres in temples, schools, mosques, community halls, factories, public health centres, etc in Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Kegalle and Ratnapura districts.

Supply of meals through coordination of the Disaster Management Centre and respective District / Divisional Secretariats and other agencies, transport of drinking water, conduct of mobile medical units, assistance to documentation of necessary details of the displaced, transport of the sick to hospitals, collection of their abandoned valuables, if any, clearance of domestic compounds and drinking water wells, clearance of garbage in respective affected areas and public places, etc are among major roles that have been taken over by the Army in respective areas.

Meanwhile, 12 Field Sri Lanka Engineer troops removing all soil, boulders and other impediments that had fallen on to the Athweltota - Harambakanda road in Digana at Agalawatta area, made the road motorable on Thursday (1) using heavy machinery of the Army.

Similarly, Corps of Engineer Services (CES) troops with infantry and ground wings began clearing of drinking water wells in several inundated areas in Kalutara under the 582 Brigade Headquarters and the 583 Brigade in Ratnapura as water levels were fast receding and people began returning to their houses.

On Thursday (1) Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Forces - West went to Agalawatta and Paragoda areas and distributed a large stock of dry rations and essentials among a section of affected civilians.

Around the same time, Major General Ranasinghe as the overall Commander in charge of rescue and relief operations, visited badly-hit Pahiyangala area which has been still predicted as a vulnerable area for sudden erosion of soil or mudslides in the aftermath of heavy rains. In addition, he supervised several places where the troops are conducting relief operations and managed to share a couple of thoughts with them.

Several Senior Officers were also associated with the visit to those places.

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