Holmes visits Kadirgamar Relief Village

by P. Krishnaswamy

Visiting UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Sir John Holmes, accompanied by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, Disaster Relief and Resettlement Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, yesterday (21) morning visited the Kadirgamar Relief Village and other welfare centres in Vavuniya, where over 35,000 civilians who had fled from the LTTE controlled areas of Wanni are housed, for an on-the-spot assessment of their humanitarian and welfare conditions.

Northern Province Governor, Sarathchandra Dela, Vavuniya GA Mrs. P.S.M. Charles, senior officials of the Vavuniya District Secretariat, officials of the Government Peace Secretariat, Senior Military Officials, representatives of INGOs and local NGOs representatives also accompanied the UN official.

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen told the Sunday Observer that Sir Holmes expressed satisfaction over the relief assistance being extended to the refugee families and the expeditious rehabilitation process under way at the 1,000-acre Kadirgamar Relief Village at Menik Farm, Vavuniya. He inspected the semi-permanent housing units that have already been put up in a 300-acre area, swimming pools, hospital and school buildings, community centres and shopping centres, co-operative stores and banks.

He also spoke to the refugees to ascertain that there were no shortcomings in the relief and rehabilitation process.

Minister Bathuideen said that he also declared open a vocational training centre where computer skills and training in several trades, including carpentry, masonry and dressmaking, would be imparted to unemployed youth among the civilians.

He also instructed the government officials concerned to take necessary steps to provide an advanced science laboratory for the benefit of refugee students pursuing higher studies.

Sir Holmes, Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and the others also participated at a high level conference at the Vavuniya District Secretariat where important matters relating to relief and rehabilitation of the displaced refugees were discussed, Rishad Bathiudeen said.