Pictures speak louder about their role

Post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation, the biggest ever challenge in post-independent Sri Lanka, blended together with a series of arduous tasks that includes meticulous planning and proper implementation, is now in full swing across the country with active support received from troops.

Army's active and tireless role in the catastrophe in areas such as Galle, Matara and Hambantota, as evidenced in some of the photos pasted in this website, has been lavishly commended, if not brought under belated media focus. (Surf for related stories in the Website). With respective local government authorities in the southern province, thousands of Sri Lankan Army personnel are still operating machinery to remove debris, Providing essential assistance to tsunami Welfare Centres, Clearing and collecting garbage that was washed ashore and into land areas, helping in re-construction work, etc.

Those Army personnel are working round the clock coordinating and supervising the reconstruction and rehabilitation schemes of the state as undertaken by District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries. More than 90% of work of removing garbage and rubble, clearing highways, preparing resettlement infrastructure and uplifting of sanitary standards for inhabitants in down-south areas has been brought to near completion. Troops deployed in the Matara District have already cleared the land stretching over 22,3600 sq meters in Weligama, Matara, Devundara and Dickwella areas. Restoration of power supply to those areas has also been helped by troops as manpower needed for such work is still available with the troops.

Putting schools back on track after all their schools disappeared following violent waves has also been a matter of priority for troops as they were doing everything possible. Military Authorities at relief and rehabilitation work in Galle, Matara and Hambanthota districts have designed a system to channel relevant Educational Officials to find alternative schools for displaced students, at least close to their temporary abode, Welfare Centres.

A considerable effort for revival of fishing industry is also being undertaken by troops since they were a hard-hit community during the disaster. By way of Army's heavy machineries, those fishermen are assisted to put back their fishing boats into the sea after they were washed away. Sri Lanka Army Engineers are engaged in transporting mended fishing boats in low- bed trailers towards fishing harbours.

Meanwhile, all welfare centres in Hambantota and Galle districts are provided security by naval troops assisted by Army and Police personnel. A US sponsored thirty-day programme to remove debris and garbage on roads and land is now under way in the southern province under the Army supervision.

A Non-Governmental Organization, funded by the United States Embassy has activated this assignment choosing Ambalangoda as the pilot project.