Batticaloa resettlement expedited

9,000 families rehoused last week:

Rasika Somarathna in Kalavanchikudy

BATTICALOA: The resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the East is gathering momentum with 9,000 families (29,000 people) resettled during the past week in Porativupattu and Vellaveli.

When a media team visited the area yesterday, the resettlement drive was in full swing with the programme expedited in 34 DS divisions since May 14.

The resettlement of IDPs in the areas of Sinawatta, Malayanadu, Kannupuram, Kannupuram East has been fully completed last Thursday alone and another batch of IDP families consisting of 4,500 people got registered with the authorities and they are to be resettled soon.

According to Major Berty Perera - Coordinating Officer of Civil Administration for Army's 233 brigade, 24-hour security has been provided for the newly resettled. The upgrading of infrastructure facilities in the areas is continuing in addition to the facilities provided by way of food, clothing, medical facilities, transport and education.

In the Vellaveli area, 12 schools out of 27 are fully functioning. All the wells have been cleaned. Postal services have commenced with one main and four sub offices functioning.

Telephone facilities too are available and two dispensaries and the MoH office have been reopened.

Electricity has already been provided. Transport is gathering momentum with Kalavanchikudy-Vellaveli bus services commencing.

All Government offices have reopened. The Agriculture offices in Palugamam and Vellaveli have recommenced work. According to Batticaloa police, all resettled persons have been issued with a temporary identification card.

The resettlement is coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat, the GA and the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Management along with the Security Forces. The newly resettled people who spoke to the Daily News said they were never forced to go back to their areas. In fact, they were delighted to return to their original homes.

The people appreciated the role played by the Security Forces and the civil administration. They appealed to the authorities to help resume their livelihoods.