Mutur Muslims returning to their native places

MUTTUR: Thousand of Muslims who fled Muttur following clashes between the Forces and the LTTE and sheltered in temporary camps are now returning to their places of origin in Muttur.

The Government has taken every possible action to resettle the Muttur Muslims in their places, Minister of Cooperatives and Co-operative Development and Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government M. Najeeb Abdul Majeed said He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed authorities to assist the resettles and provide required facilities.

According to the Divisional Secretaries of Kantalai, Thambalagamam and Kinniya, over 30.000 Muslims who have been sheltered in their divisional secretariat divisions have now been resettled in the Muttur area during the last three days.

The government had provided transport facilities for the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their native places.

A three-member Ministerial team headed by Minister Najeeb A. Majeed with Minister Risath Bathiutheen and M.S.S. Ameer Ali looked into the problems confronted with the IDPs when they visited several areas in Muttur yesterday.

The Ministers also visited Muttur Al-Hilal Vidyalaya where hundreds of families who have lost their houses are living, told them about their grievances and the Ministers have assured that every effort would be taken to remedy the shortcomings without delay.

Majeed also assured that compensation would be granted to those whose houses were damaged due to LTTE shelling and also to farmers and fishermen of Muttur who have been affected by the recent conflict.

Majeed who is also MP of the district said arrangements have been made to function all government departments in the Muttur Divisional Secretariat division.

Majeed said three schools in Muttur have commenced functioning while medical services, postal services and other essential services of the State sector are now functioning as usual.