Rapid progress in resettlement

Chaminda Perera

The Government has made great progress in the resettlement of the people who were displaced by terrorist atrocities in the North with the number of people to be resettled down to 70,000., said Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri.

He added that all displaced persons living in Welfare centres would be resettled within the next few weeks.

The Governor said more than 20,000 people in the welfare centres are making use of special permission granted by the Government to visit their relatives and friends outside the centres and nearly 50,000 people remain in the centre.

He said the over 49 families were resettled in Vinanikulam in the Madhu Divisional Secretariat Division while 1,300 families were resettled in Thunukkai and Manthai East DS divisions last week.

He said over 3,000 persons belonging to 1,200 families were resettled in Poonekeri and Karachchi divisions too.

"We will resettle another 3,000 displaced civilians in their original places of residence next week", Major General G. A. Chandrasiri said.

He said that resettlement in 27 Grama Niladhari divisions in Oddusudan will begin soon and the Government agencies are providing necessary infrastructure facilities to these areas.

"We have already completed resettlement in four Grama Niladhari divisions in the Oddusudan DS Division. The Governor stressed that more than 22,000 acres of land in the Jaffna peninsula was brought under cultivation last year and all facilities have been provided to the farmers.

The Government provides water for irrigation together with a fertilizer subsidy to the farmers who are engaged in cultivation in the Jaffna Peninsular, the Governor said.