Lankan government admits existence of refugees

"All such persons are provided with cooked meals in the first three days and thereafter, dry rations free of charge," said Gen Sarath Munasinghe, the government’s top official in charge of rehabilitation. "Basic requirements of sanitation, health and drinking water were provided," he said.

There was no immediate confirmation of Munasinghe’s claim as the government cut off Jaffna’s telephone lines and journalists are not allowed to go there. The government has also imposed censorship on news reports about the war.

However, a physician with the relief organisation Doctors Without Borders, Manana Anjaparidze, told AP last week that people have moved into temples, mosques and churches, sharing meagre food supplies and sleeping on cement floors. She said amenities at religious sites and relief camps are primitive, toilets are few, water and power supplies inadequate or erratic, and medical care insufficient.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has said the government had full confidence that the army would hold its ground on the northern Jaffna peninsula in fighting against the LTTE.

Briefing diplomats and heads of diplomatic missions based in Colombo on Tuesday on the measures undertaken by the government for the welfare of the civilians in the war-torn peninsula, he said the army has been able to stop the rolling onslaught launched by the LTTE.

Minister of Rehabilitation Sarath Amunugama explained to the diplomats and heads of UN’s specialised agencies and officials of the Red Cross that Sri Lanka is one of the few countries to supply basic requirements to the people of the north even during the times they had to live under LTTE control. He said a three month supply of essential food items are at present available within the peninsula. Another consignment of food items was being carried by a vessel which has already sailed from Colombo and would reach the peninsula within the next few days.

The Commissioner of Essential Services Gen Sarath Munasinghe said the government has the capacity to replenish stock at a short notice and pointed out that the transport of cargo by sea is quite adequate with two vessels being hired by the government and ten others hired by private firms.

He said road transport for passengers and supplies within the peninsula was satisfactory with over 90 buses plying. He said as on May 23, a total of 2320 families or 8352 people had registered themselves in welfare centres run by the government. All such persons were provided with cooked meals for the first three days and thereafter, dry rations.

He said the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and another hospital at Point Pedro were not well equipped with medical supplies. The Jaffna Hospital, however, was facing shortage of staff as several doctors had let the peninsula for security reasons.