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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

26th May 2016 18:08:25 Hours

UPDATE: Army Field Engineers Begin Post-Recovery Work with Other Agencies

Sri Lanka Army troops, including 1 Field Engineer Regiment this morning (25) hand in hand with the Ministry of Land Reclamation, began to clear the Attanagalu Oya outfall at Ja-Ela which remained disrupted due to heaps of garbage washed away in recent floods.

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, responding positively to a request of respective state agencies, instructed 1 Field Engineers of the Army to liaise with the post-flood recovery management project of the government and assist it by way of providing necessary machinery and manpower with professional knowledge.

A few Ministers and Government Officials were also present at the venue.  

Accordingly, those troops are now engaged in clearing work at the outfall of Dandugan Oya, Biyagama, Bollewa, Hanwella and Kaduwela areas with the objective of facilitating the speedy flow of stagnant flood waters in respective areas.

Meanwhile, 436 affected civilians of 128 families who live in Gangaihala Korale, Kuruduwatta and Berawila of the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) area on the instructions of Major General A. P. De Z Wickramaratne, Commander, SFHQ-C were given away dry ration packets. At the same time, a mobile medical clinic conducted by the Army treated them.  

On the same day at Gangaihala Korale, Keligroup Brigadier A. A. I. P Bandara, Brigade Commander, 111 Brigade coordinated another dry ration distribution programme with the support of the Commanding Officer, 2 Sri Lanka Riffle Corps (SLRC). Villagers of Pallethenna, Katugasthota together with Galewela Friend Society gave their full support for offer of dry rations to those people.

Meanwhile, Major General D.S.N.K Senadeera, General Officer Commanding, 11 Division of the SFHQ-C launched a donation programme on May 21 at Pilimathalawa, Ranmalaka area which was badly-affected. SENOK Corporation gave their support to conduct this programme.

143 Brigade troops and student trainees at Kalaoya Non Commissioned Officers’ Training School (NCOTS) meanwhile responded quickly to the swelling water levels in Kalaoya and evacuated hundreds of civilians in Kalaoya, Saliyawewa, Mahailuppallama, Eppawala, Galnewa and Siyabalangamuwa to safer places.

In coordination with the Divisional Secretary, state officials and volunteers, a group of 1515 affected civilians of 523 families were relocated at Neela Bemma Vidyalaya and Pahala Puliyankulama Vidyalaya after  Kalaoya waters flooded the areas such as Kalaoya, Saliyawewa, Mahailuppallama, Eppawala, Galnewa and Siyabalangamuwa.

Troops assisted in numerous ways and distributed a large consignment of cooked meals, relief items, dry rations and other essentials, provided by the government , Commercial Bank at Nochchiyagama and other agencies.

Troops of the SFHQ-E meanwhile provided dry rations, valued Rs 6 lakhs for distribution among the displaced people in Aranayaka landslides.

On the directions of the Commander, SFHQ-E the distribution programme was conducted by SFHQ-E and 23 Division troops who visited Aranayake with the onsignment.

Proceeds for purchase of relief essentials were earned by cancelling a planned free eating house (Dansala)