Sri Lanka: Troops Rescue Hundreds in North

Sri Lankan Army troops in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu
districts were the first among rescue and relief teams who rushed to
flood-affected areas in Kilinochchi and, are still busy providing immediate
rescue assistance, cooked meals, help for evacuation and relocation, medical
assistance, sanitary and technical facilities, support to District
Secretariat’s relief work, etc to nearly 2968 flood-affected people in
Raththinapuram, Anandapuram, Kanakambikulam, Maradanagar, Pannankandy,
Dharmapuram, Puliyanpokkanei, Paranthan, Kudyirippu, Uriyan, Kandawalai,
Mankulam areas in Kilinochchi under the Security Force Headquarters – Kilinochchi
(SFHQ-KLN) and Mannakandal, Kawwalakandal, Kodadikallu, KJanagaratnapuram,
Vidyapuram, Udayarkattu, Kuruvilkulam in Mullaittivu under the Security Force
Headquarters in Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT).

A few more than 230 troops, belonging to 7 Sri Lanka Light
Infantry Regiment, 9 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, 1 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment,
15 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment under the 57 Division of the SFHQ-KLN have been
engaged in these relief operations since heavy rains that lashed the area
beginning Saturday (22) have caused havoc flooding all access roads and
dwelling places. Kilinochchi rescue operations are conducted on the directions
of the Commander, Security Forces - Kilinochchi, Major General Ralf Nugera
under the close supervision of Major General Vijitha Ravipriya, General Officer
Commanding - 57 Division.

Kilinochchi troops late Saturday (22) avoided a major disaster by preventing possible breaches on Olumadhu and Pulimuchchunadukuluam tank bunds (dams) in Kilinochchi as water levels began threatening those tank perimeter bunds. Troops stacked sand bags around vulnerable places and prevented them from piercing as water levels and torrential were fast on the increase.

42 Army personnel of the 574 Brigade and 3 Gajaba Regiment troops of the 57 Division took immediate steps to place 838 sandbags around those tank bunds within a few hours.

Meanwhile, as torrential rains in Mullaittivu aggravated, troops of the SFHQ-MLT jumped into action and began rescue and relief operations in Mannakandal, Kawwalakandal, Kodadikallu, Kanagaratnapuram, Vidyapuram, Udayarkattu, Kuruvilkulam areas on the directions of Major General Dushyantha Rajaguru, Commander, Security Forces-Mullaittivu on Saturday (22).