Akashi compliments resettlement of Batticaloa's internally displaced

Astonished with speed in resettlement activities

COLOMBO: Complimenting the resettlement of internally displaced in the Batticaloa district, Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi said he was hopeful the Government and the LTTE would come out with a positive response to restart negotiations soon.

Akashi who was after an extensive tour of the Batticaloa district to witness the on going resettlement of IDPs on Thursday, met Government Chief negotiator and Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in Parliament yesterday.

A spokesman for the Minister said Akashi conveyed to the Minister, the importance of resuming peace talks to find a lasting political solution to the North and East issue and action towards de-escalation of the conflict, among other issues.

The special envoy expressed astonishment with the speed in which the resettlement activities were taking place in the area after liberating the east from the LTTE's clutches, the spokesman added.

He has also praised the facilities provided by the State to those who had returned to their homes.

Explaining the difficulties faced by the Government in bringing the East back to normality, De Silva said despite ample stocks of medicine in the hospitals they could not send enough doctors to the area. The main reason for this is that doctors are reluctant to go there due to hostile LTTE extortion campaigns to which they, too, have to contribute or face grave repercussions.

The doctors mostly Tamils, have fled the country or asked for transfers to Colombo or safer areas since the LTTE has threatened if the doctors do not contribute they cannot guarantee of their security.

The Minister said the Health Ministry, nevertheless, has already dispatched 600 midwives and 5,000 nurses to the North and East to ensure smooth functioning of the health system.