MEDICAL STOCKS DONATED TO MANTHIKAI HOSPITAL

It is a Portugese medical team this time in the north with medical supplies for tsunami victims in Jaffna peninsula. The five-member team, headed by Dr Tony Anthonio now in Sri Lanka following the SOS appeal of the government for humanitarian assistance flew to Jaffna on Sunday (9) with their consignment of medical relief.

Major General S. D. Tennakoon, Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna who acknowledged this large stock of Portugese medicine, handed it over to the Manthikai government hospital at Point Pedro. Dr.Kadirapillai, District Medical Officer, Manthikai government hospital accepting the goodwill gesture of the government of Sri Lanka and Portugal told that those medical stocks would be used for urgent medical needs of the tsunami victims and also for those who are sheltered at different welfare centres in Jaffna. Brigadier R M D Ratnayake, Coordinator for Civil Affairs was also present on the occasion

Meanwhile, troops deployed in the areas under 524 Brigade are fully geared to remove debris in affected areas in Jaffna and went on prioritizing cleaning work of the polluted wells on a directive made by Major General S. D Tennakoon and Colonel K S Rathnayake, Commander 524 Brigade.

Wreckages of devastated boats, the remains of devastated houses and all debris in Munai fisheries village area were piled up by troops and subsequently cleared from the area as muddy soil began to dry up and damages restored after tidal wave waters receded. In order to expedite the ongoing cleaning process of drinking wells, more water pumps were made available by troops for civilians to empty polluted wells in areas such as Thumpalai and Sakkottai. In some areas villagers were given all possible assistance to reconstruct their drinking-water wells by troops by way of supplying bricks, concrete blocks, etc as normalcy began to return to those hamlets.

Troops also extended their support to fishermen whose boats have been badly damaged by transporting necessary spare parts and other requirements, needed for repairs.