The Sri Lankan Army has been carrying out rebuilding work on the island’s south coast, following violence by Sinhala Buddhist mobs which left at least 4 people dead.

Rajitha Senaratne, the Sri Lankan government Minister of Fisheries, justified the decision to hand the work over to the security forces by saying,

“Why we have given it to military is because no one else would be able to finish rebuilding by meeting the month’s deadline to finish the work.”

The army commenced their work after the government had announced Rs 150 million was to be allocated to the them, in order to rebuild the affected towns.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had earlier confirmed that the armed forces would be carrying out the reconstruction work, stating they were “ready to face any eventuality in any part of the country."

Also see our earlier posts:

BBS says Facebook accounts blocked (27 Jun 2014)

Gotabhaya says army will rebuild Aluthgama (27 Jun 2014) 

Army given Rs 150mn to repair Aluthgama damage (26 Jun 2014) 

No evidence of BBS hate speech says SL police (26 Jun 2014) 

Monk arrested for ‘staging attack’ after Aluthgama violence (25 Jun 2014) 

Large scale campaigns are being organised for 'minor incidents' – Rajapaksa (24 Jun 2014)

Police allow BBS event to go ahead (23 Jun 2014)

Toronto Tamils and Muslims protest anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka (23 Jun 2014) 

Foreign attempts to drive wedge between Sri Lanka and Muslim countries – Peiris (23 Jun 2014) 

Muslims call off protest over Buddhist attacks at police behest (23 Jun 2014) 

Attacked monk had ‘self-inflicted’ injuries claim police (22 Jun 2014) 

BBS secretary denies involvement in anti-Muslim violence (22 Jun 2014) 

Flagship store of Muslim-owned clothing chain torched (21 Jun 2014)

TNA and TNPF protest in Jaffna against attacks on Muslims (20 June 2014)

Anti-Muslim violence ‘underscores majoritarianism in Sri Lanka’ – The Hindu editorial (20 June 2014)

Jaffna Uni protest against anti-Muslim violence (19 June 2014)

Hundreds protest in Tamil Nadu against Sinhala mob attack on Muslims (19 June 2014)

Muslims in Sri Lanka call on UN to investigate ongoing rights abuses (19 June 2014)

Give me a Muslim girl to marry, for the sake of national unity – Minister Mervyn Silva (19 June 2014)

Monk attacked again for supporting Muslims (19 June 2014)

Tamil groups condemn attacks against Muslims, call for justice (18 June 2014) 

Over 1,000 Muslim shops close in Colombo to protest attacks (18 June 2014)

49 arrested as Rajapaksa pledges to rebuild property affected by violence (18 June 2014)

Security forces, curfew assist Buddhist mobs attacking Muslims (17 Jun 2014)

'Those responsible for killings must be held to account’ says Amnesty (17 Jun 2014) 

OIC: Sri Lanka must bring perpetrators of anti-Islamic violence to justice (17 Jun 2014) 

UN rights chief ‘deeply alarmed’ by violence in Sri Lanka (16 Jun 2014) 

Sinhalese mob violence leaves three Muslims dead (16 Jun 2014) 

Sinhala group attacks Muslim shops, Rajapaksa urges restraint by all parties (15 Jun 2014)