 News
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Lack of security delays fishermen going home The escalating violence and the lack of security in the Kalpitiya area has compelled the fisher folk residing at Vanathavillu and Serakkuliya to move out of their villages and seek refugee at St. Anne’s Church in Vanathavillu town. The exodus began after the LTTE fired at navy vessels killing sailors and sinking a naval craft close to the Palliyawatta island. The number of families who left the Palliyawatte area was larger than those who left the Baththalangunduwa area. “We are determined to come back, but unable to say when but definitely not till the security in the area is improved,” a refugee said. The refugees who are being sheltered in church say they feel insecure because of the LTTE activity in Serakkuliya and Vanathavillu. They said earlier a police contingent of more than 40 provided security to the camp but now this has been reduced to five policemen. Minister Milroy Fernando and deputy minister D.M. Dissanayake who visited the refugees had assured the fisherfolk that they would be provided police and army security and the refugees said the Minister and the Deputy Minister had in a threatening manner told the refugees to return to their villages. A fishing restriction imposed by the navy has also caused problems to fishermen who are only allowed to go out fishing between 6 am and 5 pm.
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