The fast that was launched on Friday evening by those affected by the recent landslide in Meeriyabedda was called off on Saturday morning.

The displaced persons commenced a fast after a decision was taken to suspend providing them with cooked meals and to provide them dry rations and other equipment to cook their own meals, a month after the disaster.

However,  they called off their fast after they were given an explanation.  Meanwhile, persons from four displaced camps engaged in a demonstration obstructing the Punagala – Bandarawela Main road on Saturday.

They launched this demonstration citing several demands including the expedited process to provide them with permanent homes. A group in a three-wheeler obstructed the News 1st Correspondent who was covering  the demonstration.

The group urged our correspondent not to air the views of the demonstrators.

Speaking to News 1st on Friday, Minister of Disaster Management Mahinda Amaraweera said that persons displaced by the Meeriyabedda Landslide will be provided with a permanent home within six months.

Meanwhile, locals from the Newburg Estate in Ella raised red flags at the Newburg junction and staged a demonstration on Saturday.  Their demand was that permanent houses be provided to all the people in the up-country areas including those who were displaced by the Meeriyabedda landslide.