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by Rajmi Manatunga

The government will issue birth and marriage certificates to Sri Lankans living in South Indian refugee camps and prepare their travel documents swiftly to facilitate their return to the Motherland as respected citizens.

"But we will never bring them to the country as human cargo without creating a conducive and safe environment for them to live in," Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane told the media yesterday after returning from Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Jayawardane, who inspected some of the 110 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, said around 132,000 Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu are yearning to return to Sri Lanka. He was the first Sri Lankan Minister to visit the refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.

The Minister has requested the refugees to be patient and not to use illegal methods to return to Sri Lanka. "We want them to return voluntarily and only once they are satisfied there will be a permanent peace in the country. We will not force them to return. They are at liberty to stay in India if they choose."

During his discussions with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, the Minister has been able to sort out problems faced by Lankan refugees regarding the delay in issuing exit permits and the fine for overstay.

The Chief Minister has also agreed to send Indian medical and agricultural volunteers to the North and East, reserve more seats for Sri Lankan refugee students in Medical, Engineering, Agriculture, Nursing and Para Medical faculties of Tamil Nadu universities and to link the Jaffna University with the Agriculture Faculty of the Chennai University.

The Tamil Nadu government will also assist the reconstruction of the Jaffna library by donating rare Tamil books in CD ROMs and linking the library with those in Tamil Nadu using modern technology.

The Tamil Nadu government has also decided to release two acres of land in Chennai to put up a hostel for middle class Sri Lankans at the request of the Minister. After visiting the tomb of the last Sri Lankan King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe, the minister has also obtained permission of the State government to erect a statue of the late king at the site.

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