Over 182,000 IDPs already resettled

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Government has already resettled and released 182,946 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The number of IDPs at six sites in Vavuniya is 61,898 and the number of IDPs in two sites in Jaffna is 1,347. The number of IDPs including their guardians in hospitals is 1,604. The total number of IDPs who are living out of the welfare villages is 28,974.

Addressing a press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said only 64,849 IDPs still remain at eight sites and hospitals in the North.

There are 24,032 IDPs freely moving in the country and 4,942 of them have not returned on 'the date of return' indicated by them. The Government has no intention to search and relocate them but they are entitled to all the benefits granted to the IDPs in welfare villages.

The resettlement process in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts is in progress.

According to Minister Samarasinghe, a large number of machines are being used to remove land mines at the moment. The Government resettles IDPs only after receiving the clearance certificate from the UN and also from the local authorities. This is because the Government wishes to ensure the safety of the IDPs resettled in their original homes. The IDPs living with foster families have also been contacted through the relevant Divisional Secretaries to give them the opportunity of resettling in their original homes.

At the moment there are 11,000 former LTTE cadres under rehabilitation.

The main intention of the Government is offering them an opportunity to build a happy and prosperous future for themselves. President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his wish to establish a society where all ethnicities live in peace and harmony even before the completion of the humanitarian operation.

The Government has no intention whatsoever to start another conflict just after ending the one existed for 30 years.

What the Government is doing at the moment is solving the problems if there are any, Minister Samarasinghe said.