Sri Lanka Army engaged in all evacuation and relief operations, now in full swing at Koslandawatta-Meeriyabedda estate areas of Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat brought down a team of sniffer dogs of the Army on Thursday (30), to sniff out for any survivors or the dead under the rubble on the directions of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake who visited the affected location and temporary relief centres.
At the moment, the Army has deployed around 800 rescue men of the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) on ground, in addition to the staff, committed to man those four relief centres with about 3000 displaced civilians, most of who have been evacuated from surrounding landslide-prone areas, in consultation with Disaster Management Centre (DMC), state agencies and other geological experts and officials.
Continued torrential rains as well as dangers involved in more mudslides have posed a major setback for excavating the rubble further, absolutely mixed with gushing waters, although heavy machinery of the Army are at work on the site with hardworking Engineer Service Regiment troops.
Major General Mano Perera, Commander, SFHQ-C after receiving the visiting Commander explained to him of the measures that have been adopted for welfare of the displaced people with an update of the assignments of the Army.
On the directions of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development, the Sri Lanka Army beginning Saturday (1), will take full control of those relief centres in regard to their feeding, health and the entire management until they are moved out for alternative homes.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake visited Koslanda Sri Ganesha Tamil Vidyalaya relief centre and Poonagala Tamil Vidyalaya relief centre and shared a couple of views with victims as well as other relief workers. The Commander consoled the victims after handing over a few parcels, containing essentials.
Major General Sumeda Perera, Director General General Staff was also associated with the visit to the location, together with the Commander of the Army.
At the same time, the Commander handed over a stock of hand glouse and special sanitary bags for removal of human remains, gifted by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to the Army, in case more dead bodies were to be found later on. The hand glouses thus gifted were for the use of Army personnel and other relief workers on ground.
He also spoke to dog-handlers of the Army sniffing dogs and encouraged them to continue the search for the buried, if any since this could be another alternative method, by which these dogs are capable of sniffing a few feet down into the rubble.
Major General Mano Perera, Brigadier J.R Kulathunga, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division and senior officers during the stay there, briefed the Commander on the gravity and extent of the tragedy, using aerial photos along with minor details, regarding possible future threats, etc.
Just hours after the tragedy, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, instructed Major General Mano Perera, Commander, SFHQ-C, Major General Wasantha Wickremasooriya, Chief Field Engineer as well as other respective Brigade Commanders by phone to release Army machinery, bulldozers and backhoes to the affected location at the earliest, together with additional troops for relief work.
At the moment, the Army has deployed around 800 rescue men of the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) on ground, in addition to the staff, committed to man those four relief centres with about 3000 displaced civilians, most of who have been evacuated from surrounding landslide-prone areas, in consultation with Disaster Management Centre (DMC), state agencies and other geological experts and officials.
Continued torrential rains as well as dangers involved in more mudslides have posed a major setback for excavating the rubble further, absolutely mixed with gushing waters, although heavy machinery of the Army are at work on the site with hardworking Engineer Service Regiment troops.
Major General Mano Perera, Commander, SFHQ-C after receiving the visiting Commander explained to him of the measures that have been adopted for welfare of the displaced people with an update of the assignments of the Army.
On the directions of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development, the Sri Lanka Army beginning Saturday (1), will take full control of those relief centres in regard to their feeding, health and the entire management until they are moved out for alternative homes.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake visited Koslanda Sri Ganesha Tamil Vidyalaya relief centre and Poonagala Tamil Vidyalaya relief centre and shared a couple of views with victims as well as other relief workers. The Commander consoled the victims after handing over a few parcels, containing essentials.
Major General Sumeda Perera, Director General General Staff was also associated with the visit to the location, together with the Commander of the Army.
At the same time, the Commander handed over a stock of hand glouse and special sanitary bags for removal of human remains, gifted by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to the Army, in case more dead bodies were to be found later on. The hand glouses thus gifted were for the use of Army personnel and other relief workers on ground.
He also spoke to dog-handlers of the Army sniffing dogs and encouraged them to continue the search for the buried, if any since this could be another alternative method, by which these dogs are capable of sniffing a few feet down into the rubble.
Major General Mano Perera, Brigadier J.R Kulathunga, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division and senior officers during the stay there, briefed the Commander on the gravity and extent of the tragedy, using aerial photos along with minor details, regarding possible future threats, etc.
Just hours after the tragedy, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, instructed Major General Mano Perera, Commander, SFHQ-C, Major General Wasantha Wickremasooriya, Chief Field Engineer as well as other respective Brigade Commanders by phone to release Army machinery, bulldozers and backhoes to the affected location at the earliest, together with additional troops for relief work.
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