Many families are housed in two welfare centresin Nanattan Division

Nanattan Divisional Secretary (DS) Nadarajah Thirugnanasambander told BBC Sandeshaya that most of them are housed in welfare centres established in a school and cultural centre.

"There were about 1600 families consisting of 6000 members in the Musili Divisional Secretary's Division," the DS said.

675 IDP families

Out of 2600 Internally Displaced People (IDP) from 675 families at least 1400 people from 400 families are housed in the two centres, he added.

Other IDPs are currently staying with the friends and the relatives in Nanattan DS division.

There is enough food available. They are supplied with cooked meals by the NGOs as well as with the govt. Assistance. Nanattan DS

"Others are yet to come; Sometimes they may go to Mannar DS division also," the government official said.

The Sri Lankan army (SLA) says it has captured a sea base from the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels, on the second day of an offensive in the north-west of the country.

LTTE base 'captured'

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said five boats fitted with guns and a large quantity of anti-personnel mines and detonators had been found at the camp near the village of Silavathurai in Mannar district.

He said several thousand civilians would now be resettled in the areas cleared by the Sri Lankan military.

	SLA claims capturing Sea Tiger base in Silavatura, Mannar

There has been no word from the Tigers, who were said to have withdrawn without a fight.

Nadarajah Thirugnanasambander said the refugees are provided with enough food and other facilities with the help of the government and the Non Governmental Organisations (NGO).

"There is enough food available. Sarvodaya is supplying food commodities for those who are residing with relatives and friends," Thirugnanasamban told BBCSinhala.com.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), he added, is providing sanitary facilities to the IDPs.

Sri Lankan government forces have made advances against the rebels in the east in recent months, but the Tamil Tigers still control large parts of the north.