IDPs resettled and North developed despite criticism

by Mohammed NAALIR

Even amidst the strident criticism by some mischievous elements and the Opposition carrying out propaganda aiming at personal political advantage, the Government is successfully carrying out the resettlement of IDPs and the infrastructure development in the North under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" accelerated Northern development drive.

The Government is committed to promote the living standards of the community affected due to the LTTE terrorism for the past three decades.The Government has resettled a large number of IDPs in their original lands where land mines were successfully removed by the Government.

Resettlement of IDPs has become the main priority for the Government after they were liberated from the clutches of the LTTE while developing the dilapidated infrastructure in the region.

The ultimate goal of the Government is to develop the Northern Province on par with other developed provinces and even beyond the Eastern Province which was subjected to a major development process after all parts of the province were brought under one flag.

The Government jointly with the NGO groups are engaged in the de-mining process round the clock to expedite the resettlement of the IDPs.

According to the statistics prepared by the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry on September 9 based on the report on the resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs there are a total number of 247,186 IDPs in Vavuniya Welfare Centres while 7,379 persons are housed in Jaffna and 7,712 persons and in Trincomalee. The Government has issued 117,000 temporary identity cards to the authorities to be distributed among the IDPs for personal identification.

Two hundred and ninety families numbering 1,087 persons were resettled in the Eastern part of the country from Menik Farm Welfare Centre.

Accordingly 49 families with 159 persons in Ampara District, 83 families numbering 256 persons in Batticaloa District, 47 families numbering 120 persons in Jaffna District and 166 families numbering 553 persons were resettled in Trincomalee District on August 05.

One hundred twenty nine IDP families numbering 389 persons who were housed in Jaffna Welfare Centre were resettled in their own places while 221 families numbering 754 persons who were staying with the relatives and friends in Velanai Divisional Secretariat Division were resettled in their own places on August 27 this year.The Government resettled 9920 persons in their own places on September 11. Accordingly 6838 persons in Jaffna, 2,170 persons in Trincomalee, 274 persons in Ampara and 638 persons in Batticaloa were resettled on this date.

Meanwhile the UNICEF donated 10 Gully Bowsers worth Rs. 24 million to the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry recently to be used by the IDPs housed in the Welfare camps in Vavuniya, Jaffna and Trincomalee. Minister Rishad Badiudeen received the vehicles from UNICEF representative for Sri Lanka Philippe Duamelle recently.

The Gully Emptiers will be used to clean the septic tanks and to prevent the deterioration of health of the IDPs and avoid environment pollution during the coming rainy season.

The Gully emptiers will help to fulfil the sanitation needs of the IDP welfare centres.

Besides 1444 IDP families numbering 7,810 persons were resettled in Jaffna District until September 7.

Accordingly 51 families numbering 384 persons who are housed in Jaffna, 75 families numbering 149 persons who are housed in Kopay, 70 families numbering 196 persons who are housed in Mirisuwil RCTMS, 266 families numbering 719 persons who are housed in Kodikamam Government M.V-WC, 347 families numbering 1011 persons who are housed in Kaithadi Saiva Children WC, 543 families numbering 1403 persons who are housed in Kaithadi University Hostel WC, 564 families numbering 1,706 persons who are housed in Kaithadi PRI (A) WC, 475 families numbering 1,408 persons who are housed in Kodikamam IDP Centre-A and 233 families numbering 737 persons who are housed in Kodikamam IDP Centre-B are yet to be resettled.

Meanwhile 451 IDP families numbering 1,654 persons are to be resettled according to the report issued on 14. 09. 2009.

According to the statement issued by the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry on September 10 there are 1,003 families numbering 3,171 persons are yet to be resettled in Trincomalee District.

Accordingly 981 families numbering 3,093 persons are currently housed in Muttur while 22 families numbering 78 persons housed in Kinniya.Resettlement and Disaster Relief services Minister Rishad Badiudeen stated that we have full confidence in President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his correct leadership and the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The three Armed Forces brought us a historic victory over the LTTE terrorists. Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa also made an enormous contribution to eradicate terrorism and to develop our country.

One will propose a sustainable solution to the ethnic issue under which the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims would be able to live in harmony while protecting their ethnic identities.

It won't be a difficult task for the President to give a solution to the ethnic issue when he had warded off the three decade-old terrorism from our country.

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa officially inaugurated the passenger transport service between Jaffna and Colombo through A-9 Road.

Earlier, the Government had granted permission only for goods transport through A-9 Road. In the earlier stage IDPs from 35 villages in Vavuniya District were resettled in their own places.

As the North has to be redeveloped afresh all Ministers of the Government will play a key role in the resettlement process and redeveloping infrastructure facilities. Minister Badiudeen expressed confidence that most of the IDPs could be resettled within 180 days as de-mining activities have been expedited.

According to the statistics issued by the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry on 10. 08. 2009 there are 2,226 persons numbering 6,936 persons yet to be resettled in Pulmudai.Accordingly 1,501 families numbering 4,748 persons are housed in Shaganagama WC-1 while 725 families numbering 2,094 persons are housed in Shaganagama WC-2.

Meanwhile 36,123 families numbering 123,851 persons who displaced from Koralai Patru North (Vakarai), Porativu Patru Vellavely, Manmunai South West (Vavunathivu), Eravur Patru (Chenkalady) and Koralai Patru South (Kiran) were resettled in their own places by September 14, 2009 while 6,926 persons numbering 20,625 persons resettled in Trincomalee District and 85 families numbering 263 persons were resettled in Batticaloa District from Vavuniya District resettled in Trincomalee District and 85 families numbering 263 persons were resettled in Batticaloa District from Vavuniya District.