Millions of rupees in cash, and in the form of relief items, go missing on the way to the tsunami-struck east coast

Millions of rupees in cash, and in the form of relief items, have mysteriously disappeared on route to the tsunami-struck east, says the government.





Millions of rupees in cash, and in the form of relief items, have mysteriously disappeared on route to the tsunami-struck east, says the government. David Muller, the United Nations coordinator working with the Centre for National Operations(CNO)- the government’s central relief coordinating body – said on Monday, at a donor meeting, that relief supplies and money sent to eastern parts of the island have gone missing.

For instance out of the Rs 95 mn sent east as funeral assistance, over half never reached that far.

"Out of the Rs 95 mn sent for funerals in eastern parts of the island, the Government Agents say they have got only Rs 40 mn," says Muller.

Relief consignments of food and shelter items leaving from Colombo have also vanished without a trace.

"Out of six vehicles of supplies only three are accounted for," he said.

Meanwhile rice, that makes its way to eastern displaced persons camps, cannot be eaten.

"The rice that has been sent to the camps in the east ca