More Japanese aid to tsunami displaced

COLOMBO: Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry has taken steps to provide essential items to these families and persons displaced by tsunami and internal strife and awaiting permanent shelters.

According to a survey, by September 2002 there were 227,000 displaced families and 42,000 families were living in welfare centres. The balance were with friends and relatives. According to the Ministry sources 112,000 families have been settled and about 18,000 families still live in welfare centres and the rest with their friends and relatives. By April this year 55,000 families have been added to the displaced families by recent disturbances.

Ministry sources said a number of countries including Japan has come forward to assist Sri Lanka in the resettlement programme.

Japan, one of the largest donors to Sri Lanka will hand over 800 bales of plastic sheets, 500 bales of sleeping mats, 100 cartons of cans at Rs. 5.5 million and these will be received by the Ministry Secretary and UNHCR representative in Sri Lanka, on Wednesday for distribution among the displaced.