Resettlement in Vavuniya begins

Chaminda PERERA

Close on the heels of resettling families in Musali division in the Mannar district , the Government will start resettlement process in the Vavuniya district on August 7.

According to Resettlement and Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, the resettlement of people in 35 Grama Niladhari divisions in the Vavuniya district is expected to begin on August 07.

The Minister said these villages are being cleared of mines and all infrastructure facilities are provided to these villages before the displaced people are resettled in their original houses.

"The Government has decided to set up examinations centres for the students who are sitting for the G.C.E. (A\L) examination within the welfare camps" , he said.

He said the Education Ministry launched a special program targeting the A\L students in the welfare camps. "Teachers from leading schools in Colombo conducted seminars and classes for these students" ' he said.

Minister Bathiudeen stressed that the UNICEF has accepted the task of providing adequate toilet facilities to the displaced people in welfare camps and allegation of insufficient toilet facilities should be accepted by them.

The Minister refuted recent media reports that over 100 people die in the welfare centres a week. He said one or two persons die in camps per week due to natural causes.

"Even number of persons die in camps in Puttalam where Muslim people who were evicted from the Northern province by the LTTE are staying" ' he said.

He said the UNHCR accepted the task of providing temporary shelters to the IDPs and they should hold responsibility if any lapses arises on their part. "We established semi permanent houses in Anandakumaraswamy and Kadiragamarpuram villages utilising Government's funds and the people in the camp are fully satisfied with them.

The Presidential Task Force on Northern Development headed by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP is closely monitoring the demining process in progress in the Northern region and displaced will be resettled as soon as the mines are removed from the area, he said.