Refugees in Tamil Nadu return to Lanka

Nine families of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, lodged in a camp in Dharmapuri since 2006, are returning home as the conditions have improved in some areas.

The refugees numbering 36, including 13 women and 11 children, were given a warm send off by Dharmapuri Tahsildar S Dhandapani as they left the camp at Mathikonaplayam on Thursday for Chennai en route to Sri Lanka.

All the refugees, hailing from a village in Mannar, had been granted visa, official sources said.

One of the families' head, S Sebastian (45), told reporters they had decided to return to their native place in Mannar area as the situation had improved and it was safe to go back. They were going back on their own will, he added.

The families, all involved in fishing, said they would carry on with their profession in their homeland.

The refugees, who were residing in the camp since November 16, 2006, thanked the Indian Government and the Tamil Nadu Government and the District Collector for providing refuge. The Hindu