Resettlement allowance to be enhanced

COLOMBO: It has been decided to enhance the initial resettlement allowance to displaced families of the North East conflict from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, at a discussion held on the North and East Development programme held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. At the discussion the decision was taken in order to enable the displaced families now living in refugee camps to meet the basic expenses connected with their resettlement in their original habitats.

It was also decided to make this payment to families who resettled before the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement between the Government and the LTTE in 2002.

Groundwork to construct 240,000 houses for families rendered homeless has now been completed with aid from the Government as well as from international voluntary organisations. At the discussion it was decided to initiate a separate housing project named "Janadhipathi Gammana" financed under the Presidential Fund while the other housing schemes are to be financed by the World Bank, European Union and several other international organisations.

The North-East Development programme includes infrastructure facilities, drinking water supply and irrigational facilities and all the projects are to be implemented with the consultation, and participation of the people's representatives of the affected regions.

Ministers Douglas Devananda, Rishad Badiudin, Hussain Bahila, Segu Izadeen, D. M. Dassanayake, MP Jayantha Wijesekera, North East Governor Mohan Wijewickrema,Presidential Advisor Nazeer Ahamed and National Reconstruction and Development Ministry Secretary M. S. Jayasinghe were present.