by Norman Palihawadana

Rehabilitation Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane, chief guest at a mobile relief service at St. Andrew’s College, Puttalam was escorted under police protection to a safe place yesterday as a group of men opposed to the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress led by Minister Rauff Hakeem, created havoc to disrupt the ceremony, Puttalam police said.

The mobile service organised to provide relief to the refugees ended in disruption as the refugee recipients ran helter skelter due to the tensed situation.

The anti-Rauff Hakeem group had fired in the air to frighten the audience at the ceremony, police said.

Minister Jayawardane and SLMC representative at the ceremony Riyadh Massudeen were escorted under police protection to a safe place by the police.

Muslim and Tamil refugees gathered at the mobile service had run helter skelter after the armed group fired in the air to frighten them.

Police security was tightened at the venue and the damage caused to the venue is now being assessed. Attempts to contact Dr. Jayawardane for a comment proved futile last night.