The Nagapattinam port, which suffered heavy damage in the tsunami disaster, has been ade operational, a top state official said.

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A hub for exporting cement to Sri Lanka and importing edible oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, the port

has been repaired and is now ready for operations, Commissioner for tsunami victims' relief, Santha Sheela Nair, told reporters.

However, she said, it would be some more before the barges in the port are made operational.

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