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| Sunday, 7 July 2002 |
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Lankan refugees all set to return to motherland by E. Weerapperuma Tamils from the North and East who ran away as refugees to the State of Tamil Nadu seeking refuge years ago after the outbreak of war between the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,and now live in camps could return and settle down in their native land, once peace returns to Sri Lanka. Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene who was the first Sri Lankan Minister ever to visit several refugee camps in Tamil Nadu State recently, told the " Sunday Observer" that the United National Front Government led by the UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was committed to bring back peace. " I have assured those living in the camps that they will be in a position to return to Sri Lanka with their heads high and not as refugees, once the ground situation becomes peaceful". According to Minister Jayawardene there are over 66,000 Tamils now live in 111 refugee camps in the Tamil Nadu State, which had to spend about 25 million rupees annually to maintain them, providing food and shelter in addition to free education. Similar number of Sri Lankan Tamils live outside the camps, he added. Minister Jayawardene was of the view that the number of landmines found in the North/East is estimated to be around one million and said that he cannot not settle those returnees in the areas before clearing. The re-settlement is temporally put on hold till the outcome of the proposed peace talks, he said. Minister Jayawardene told the "Sunday Observer" that Sri Lankan Tamils now live as refugees will not forced to come back but they are welcome to return." I do not wish them to be here as refugees. Nor do I wish them to come and be greeted by landmines. I want them to be here as citizens of this country. Once they are here they will be in, where they belonged to, before they fled the country", he added. Calling his recent visit to Tamil Nadu basically," a study tour" the Minister said that his number one priority was to strengthen the ties between the Tamil Nadu government and the Sri Lanka government. He further said that during his visit he met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalitha Jayaram and placed before her the strategy he proposes for the safe return of the Sri Lanka Tamils, now living in refugee camps. While conveying the greetings of the Sri Lanka Prime Minister and the appreciation of the Sri Lanka government for the humane attitude of the Tamil Nadu State, he informed the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister that they would take steps to distribute booklets to refugees giving information as to what one should do in the event he or she decides to return to Sri Lanka. The booklet will tell the type of documents they should furnish to get their travel papers approved. Arrangement would be made to issue travel documents within a day. The UNHCR will provide funds necessary to print the booklet. During his stay in Tamil Nadu he met the State Governor P.S. Ramamohan Rao and the Education Minister M. Thambidurai as well. Minister accompanied by Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, Amarlal Sumith Nakandala visited the camps. The refugees while appreciating the visit, had told him that they were anxious to be back home, once they were convinced that they could live in peaceful environment. He also said that Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner would make periodical visits at least once in three months, to the camps to facilitate the rehabilitation work. Minister Jayawardene also took his time off to visit the grave of Sri Wickrema Rajasingha, the last King of the Kandyan Kingdom, near Palar river in Vellore. Responding to his request, the State government has decided to put up a statue of the King. Sathis Kumar, Media Director of the Ministry said that the visit of Minister Jayawardene to the Tamil Nadu State had proved beneficial to the future visitors to India. The State government has allotted two acres of land to set up a pilgrim rest. The construction work will take place after talks between the State government and the Sri Lanka government. He added that the State government has decided on a project to grant yearly financial assistance to 500 Sri Lankan students pursuing higher studies. |
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