Sri Lanka Army troops, now busily engaged in the reconstruction process at Aluthgama - Beruwala, are operating at five sub-sector levels after targeting restoration of three damaged buildings from each sub-sector under the first phase.
According to Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), many groups of Sinhalese and Muslim social workers have enthusiastically extended their support to the troops, now engaged in renovation work since Friday (27).
Areas such as Ambagashandiya Military Road, Adikarigoda, Pathirajagoda, Seeniwatta, Pinnawatta, Ambepitiya, Dharga Town and a few other surrounding areas have been prioritized under the phase one and the troops expect to complete the project at least within a matter of few weeks, he added.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (30) arrived at those affected areas in order to inspect the progress of reconstruction work and spoke to different sections of the public as well as those engaged in reconstruction work.
President Rajapaksa soon after his return from Bolivia directed the Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake to immediately undertake repairs in affected areas with the participation of Army and other service personnel on June 18.
The government has already allocated Rs 200 m for reconstruction work, out of which Rs 150 m has been earmarked exclusively for use in Army renovation roles.
SFHQ-West troops while conducting this initial repair work in close coordination with Navy, Air Force, Ministry of Resettlement, Municipal Councils and Pradesheeya Sabhas in respective areas, are to launch this project under two phases.
A batch of 765 Army personnel with members of the Corps Engineer Service Regiment, Navy and Air Force personnel are currently carrying out this project.
A series of consultative meetings in the past one week at Dharga town, Aluthgama and Beruwala Divisional Secretariats, District Secretariat at Kalutara, Aluthgama Army formation and a few other places, attended by religious leaders, Ministers, Mayors, Provincial Councilors, Divisional and District Secretaries, Major General U.A.B Medawela, senior Police, Tri-service officers, discussed various ways and means of defusing tensions, promotion of ethno-religious harmony, identification of prioritized areas of repairs, allocation of temporary accommodation for the victims, supply of financial assistance and dry rations, etc in depth.
SFHQ-West Commander during those meetings insisted the importance of maintaining special focus on the youth in the area as they could be the first to react to rumours and misleading information that would incite communal flames.
According to Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West), many groups of Sinhalese and Muslim social workers have enthusiastically extended their support to the troops, now engaged in renovation work since Friday (27).
Areas such as Ambagashandiya Military Road, Adikarigoda, Pathirajagoda, Seeniwatta, Pinnawatta, Ambepitiya, Dharga Town and a few other surrounding areas have been prioritized under the phase one and the troops expect to complete the project at least within a matter of few weeks, he added.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (30) arrived at those affected areas in order to inspect the progress of reconstruction work and spoke to different sections of the public as well as those engaged in reconstruction work.
President Rajapaksa soon after his return from Bolivia directed the Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake to immediately undertake repairs in affected areas with the participation of Army and other service personnel on June 18.
The government has already allocated Rs 200 m for reconstruction work, out of which Rs 150 m has been earmarked exclusively for use in Army renovation roles.
SFHQ-West troops while conducting this initial repair work in close coordination with Navy, Air Force, Ministry of Resettlement, Municipal Councils and Pradesheeya Sabhas in respective areas, are to launch this project under two phases.
A batch of 765 Army personnel with members of the Corps Engineer Service Regiment, Navy and Air Force personnel are currently carrying out this project.
A series of consultative meetings in the past one week at Dharga town, Aluthgama and Beruwala Divisional Secretariats, District Secretariat at Kalutara, Aluthgama Army formation and a few other places, attended by religious leaders, Ministers, Mayors, Provincial Councilors, Divisional and District Secretaries, Major General U.A.B Medawela, senior Police, Tri-service officers, discussed various ways and means of defusing tensions, promotion of ethno-religious harmony, identification of prioritized areas of repairs, allocation of temporary accommodation for the victims, supply of financial assistance and dry rations, etc in depth.
SFHQ-West Commander during those meetings insisted the importance of maintaining special focus on the youth in the area as they could be the first to react to rumours and misleading information that would incite communal flames.
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