The ANCL building lit up with Vesak illuminations. and One of the exhibits for the ANCL Vesak lantern contest.

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Tension grips Trinco again as TNA predicts repercussions..

The atmosphere of tension deepened earlier today in a sequel to a magisterial order to the UDA stipulating that action against all unauthorized religious and other constructions be dealt with under the provisions of the law. The decision came shortly after North-East Governor sped off to Trincomalee for last minute reconciliatory attempts to douse the rising tension in the area which has made Trincomalee a potential catalyst for a religious /political clash of huge proportions.

The law provides for the demolition of all unauthorised constructions. Hitherto, unauthorized commercial structures and domestic dwellings in other part of the country have been bulldozed with out notice by the urban development authorities of other provinces.

TNA Parliamentarian Kanagendran Eelaventhan warned of "severe repercussions" if the controversial Buddha statue in Trincomalee town was "not removed by tonight."

The spokesman for the TNA which is the Colombo political arm of the LTTE, said " we view the erection of the new Buddha statue as an act symbolising state sponsored colonization of Trincomalee".

Meanwhile, DIG Eastern Province, Neville Wijesinghe told lankamuslims.com that the court today ordered the town council to take legal action against all illegal constructions in the Trincomalee area.

He said that there were no immediate signs of antagonistic actions in the area "though in the last 72 hours tension has been high in the area."

The new replacement statue erected by the North East Sinhala Organization.(NESO) a few days ago, triggered the LTTE sponsored harthal that had crippled Trincomalee town for several days before Vesak Celebrations

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Trinco Tension - Government Express Concern Without Naming the LTTE - Forces Say LTTE Behind Unrest

The government has expressed its concern on the continuing tension in Trincomalee without directly naming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the unrest in the port city. However the Security Forces have gone on record placing the blame on the LTTE for the unrest created in the city. A member of the Security Forces said they had complained to the SLMM before Vesak that it was the LTTE that was inciting violence in the area.

A statement from the government states that it's concerned about the situation caused by a small group of residents in Trincomalee with the assistance of several outside forces. The statement said that the security of the residents of Trincomalee has been strengthened and the President held discussions with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R. Sampanthan to seek ways of resolving the problem in a durable manner and a Citizens committee was formed for the district of Trincomalee. The President also had sent a team of representatives to Trinco led by Minister Maithripala Sirisena and Defence Secretary Asoka Jayawardane.

108 families in Galle occupy World Vision-built transitional shelters

A total of 108 families, once resident along the southern coast of the tsunami-devastated district of Galle moved out of displaced camps and into new transitional shelters built for them by World Vision Lanka.

The occupation of houses took place at three points in Galle District - 50 families in Rejjupura, 34 in Nagaragalawatte and another 24 families in Janandanaramaya. Each cluster of houses was situated in the Hikkaduwa division of Galle and benefited families whose homes had been completely destroyed by the tsunami December last year.

Each cluster of transitional houses occupied by displaced people has been built well within the Government stipulated boundaries away from the beach.

The Commissioner General of Essential Services, Tilak Ranaviraja, present at the occasion said that the Government of Sri Lanka would take the responsibility of providing water and electricity to the new residents of the 108 transitional shelters. He also promised the residents that the Government would pay their water and electricity bills at this time of difficulty.

Many of the new residents said that transitional shelters provided by World Vision was timely. The rain season has set in, in most parts of the country.

It is hoped that the more permanent nature of transitional shelter and the organized placement of units will allow for more privacy to families and protect children from health hazards during the rainy season like dengue and malaria.