Over 60,000 displaced families in East

Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday 60,088 families have been displaced in the Eastern Province due to LTTE activities.

Responding to a question by JVP MP Jinadasa Kitulagoda, Minister Gunawardene said the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry has set up 12 temporary camps in the Batticaloa district and three camps in the Trincomalee district to settle the displaced families.

According to the figures, 863 families have been settled in 12 temporary camps in the Batticaloa district while 706 families are in three camps in the Trincomalee district, he said.

The Government has made arrangements to resettle the displaced families in their own villages within the first six months of this year, the Minister added.