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Trinco: Little is normal after April 12
From Sinniah Gurunathan, Trincomalee correspondent
Life has not returned to normal for the people living in Trincomalee town and its suburbs, following the violent incidents that occurred on April 12.
On this day this Eastern port city witnessed mayhem following a bomb explosion in the town’s market place. The violence resulted in about 20 civilian deaths and the destruction of more than 30 homes and business institutions.
Since then people are still gripped by fear and uncertainty.

Business activities too have not returned to normal. Most shops close by 1 p.m. and many textile, jewellery and shoe shops remain closed after those violent incidents.

Many of the roads are deserted except for army and police patrols.
Transport services too are affected as many people fear to travel about unless it is really necessary.

Entertainment appears to be dead with three cinema halls in the town putting up shutters since April 12. Many schools which were to open for the second term on April 25 are closed since many parents fear to send their children.
" How can I send my children to school as anything could happen at any time,” one worried parent said.

" What is the purpose of opening when daily attendance is so poor?” one principal asked. “There are about 2000 enrolled in my school but only about 20-30 students who live close by attend school. Further we cannot guarantee the safety of students while they are in school. The attendance of the teachers is also poor. Most of the teachers who come from the suburbs are afraid to travel the distance. “So I decided to close the school till the situation improves,” he said.

Meanwhile an official of the Trincomalee Zonal Education Department told The Sunday Times, “We cannot force principals to keep schools open in the absence of students and teachers. The only alternative is to allow them to close the schools till normality returns especially in the town. However when normality returns they will have to conduct additional classes to make up for lost time.”

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