Indian HC visits Menik Farm IDP centres

Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad, accompanied by a team of officers from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, visited the IDP camps in Menik Farm, Vavuniya, on Saturday. During his visit, the High Commissioner held discussions regarding the welfare of the IDPs with Vavuniya GA Mrs. Charles and Competent Authority for IDPs in the Northern Province Maj Gen Kamal Gooneratne.

The High Commissioner was also briefed on the measures being taken by the Government authorities for the provision of various facilities in Menik Farm, especially to guard against possible flooding and water logging during the next monsoon.

Developments regarding the IDP resettlement process to places of their native habitation were also discussed during the visit. The High Commissioner subsequently visited various zones of the Menik Farm and distributed educational kits donated by the India-Sri Lanka Foundation to nearly 100 schoolchildren.

A total of 6000 such kits are being provided for the use of students studying at various schools in the camps.

The High Commissioner also visited a temple in Kathirgamar Village (Zone 0) to offer prayers.

He noted that India continued to remain concerned about the welfare of the IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka. He recalled that the Indian Hospital had recently left Sri Lanka after six months of service, out of which nearly four months were spent providing healthcare to over 50,000 IDPs in Menik Farm. Medicines worth nearly SLR 100 million had also been provided during this period to the Government.

The High Commissioner said that, as a follow up measure, the Government of India had made a proposal to deploy an artificial limb fitment team from the famous Jaipur Foot organization of India for the treatment of those who might have lost their limbs during the conflict.

The proposal was now with the the Government and India was awaiting a confirmation of the basic logistics that need to be provided for the project.