News
Protest over non-issuance of disaster relief allowance erupts in Puttalam
View(s):By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Residents of the Puttalam divisional secretariat were up in arms yesterday over the divisional secretariat’s failing to provide the Rs 25, 000 compensation to those affected by cyclone Ditwah.
Around 1000 protestors obstructed the old Puttalam – Mannar road from the Weppamaduwa area for nearly five hours.
The protestors were from the Manathivu Grama Nildhari area, and included villagers from Weppamaduwa, Hathare kanuwa, Soltan, Madina Nagar, Pasbarabath, Viluka and Rahamath Nagar.
The protest caused inconvenience to vehicle movement and the protestors said they would not move until they were given an assurance that they would receive the compensation.
Police attempts to remove the protestors proved futile. When the divisional secretary arrived at the scene the tense situation escalated with protestors’ holding the divisional secretary hostage for about half an hour demanding their money.
The divisional secretary was later taken to the Weppamaduwa Jumma mosque where a discussion was held.
At the meeting the divisional secretary explained that a committee at the Grama Niladhari level recommends lists of persons who have been affected and once that is verified he would accordingly provide compensation to those affected.
The protestors had left the area on the assurance of the divisional secretariat.
The Sunday Times learns that in some areas people who were not affected by the calamity have also made claims and this has sometimes resulted in the genuinely affected being deprived of the Rs. 25,000.
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