UN Special Representative expresses satisfaction

CHAMINDA PERERA

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Human Rights of IDPs Prof Walter Kalin has expressed satisfaction over the condition in the IDP camps where the civilians fleeing from the LTTE terrorist atrocities are temporarily accommodated.

According to Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry Secretary Prof Rajiva Wijesinghe, the UN envoy has focused special attention on the Muslim people who were chased away from Jaffna and Mullativu districts by the LTTE in the early 1990s . The UN envoy has inspected two welfare centres in Vavuniya and witnessed how Government has made arrangement to ensue that people are provided with all basic amenities in the camp.

"The Government has taken swift action to rectify some minor shortcomings in the welfare camps witnessed by the UN envoy. Prof Wijesinghe stressed that all measures have been taken to ensure the freedom of movement

The Relief and Resettlement Ministry has provided adequate water facilities to these IDPS in the Welfare centre premises. Prof Wijesinghe stressed the Government is working out a mechanism to resettle these civilians in their original homes soon.

"The Government succeeded in resettling over 170,000 families in the Eastern province and the same method is being followed to resettled these IDPs in their original homes, he said.

"The Ministry will take every possible effort to ensure the freedom of movement of these IDPs provided that these measures do not pose any threat to the country's security' he said.