Army Troops Begin Initial Repair Works in Trouble-Torn Aluthgama

Security Force Headquarters, West (SFHQ-West) of the Sri Lanka Army which has now been entrusted the arduous challenge of rebuilding and renovating all damaged properties in communal riots-affected Aluthgama and Beruwala areas, formally commenced its work.

More than 125 Army personnel, including officers Friday (27) morning, commenced initial debris and rubble- collecting work, re-evaluation of remaining structures and overall assessment of repairs, needed in the heart of Aluthgama town, Dharga town, Ambagashandiya Military Road, Adikarigoda, Pathirajagoda and Seeniwatta areas, according to Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, SFHQ-West.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake to immediately undertake repairs to affected areas with the participation of Army and other service personnel on June 18 when the former attended a meeting of religious and civil leaders in Beruwala soon after his arrival from an overseas visit.

The government has already allocated Rs 200 m for reconstruction work, out of which Rs 150 m has been earmarked exclusively for 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 engage in this work under two phases.

Immediately after the ongoing Friday (27) initiated survey and clean-up work is over, another batch of 765 Army personnel with members of the Corps Engineer Service Regiment will begin physical repairs and renovation projects within a few weeks, Major General Medawela said.

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.