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On directive of President:
Restrictions on IDPs lifted from December 1
by Dhaneshi YATAWARA
Amidst the applause of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),
Senior Presidential Advisor and Chairman of the Task Force for Northern
Development Basil Rajapaksa MP said that all restrictions on Internally
Displaced Persons in the Wanni will be lifted from December 1.
He was addressing a special meeting in this connection at the Menik
Farm, Chettikulam in Vavuniya, yesterday.
Rajapaksa said there are no more restrictions for IDPs at the IDP
centres in the Wanni and they could move out of the centres freely.
On the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in consultation with
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Governor Northern Province G.A.
Chandrasiri, Wanni Commander Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and Vavuniya
Government Agent, Ms. P.S.M. Charles, IDPs in the Wanni can move out
freely from the IDP centres.
They could go wherever they wish and return to the IDP centres if
they do not find a suitable place to stay.
All IDPs are expected to be resettled in their original places before
January 31, 2010, he said.
Rajapaksa said that the Government had acted in a highly responsible
manner in safeguarding the lives of thousands of IDPs and resettling
them in their original places. “Clearing of mines and providing
infrastructure facilities for IDPs to resettle in their original areas
are currently under way in several areas.
Therefore, all IDPs will be resettled in their original places before
January 31, next year,” he said.
He told the IDPs that they should not forget the initiative taken by
the Government of President Rajapaksa to provide them a bright future
free from the clutches of terrorism.
There are 130,000 IDPs remaining in IDP centres in the Wanni
according to the GA Vavuniya.
TNA commends Government
by Krishnaswamy
Wanni District Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
Parliamentarian Sivanathan Kishore has commended the
Government for lifting all restrictions on the movement of
IDPs in the Vavuniya and Chettikulam Welfare Centres from
December 1.
He told the Sunday Observer that they were
impressed with the accelerated resettlement of a large
number of IDPs, their improved conditions in welfare
villages and other welfare measures announced by the
Government in respect of the Northern civilian population,
including the opening of the A-9 highway and waiving off
security clearance for civilians to reach Colombo.
Together with six other TNA
parliamentarians he recently visited the welfare villages
and resettlement areas in the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and
Mannar districts and found that the people had heaved a sigh
of relief.
Heeding their request Senior Advisor to
the President Basil Rajapaksa MP who is also Chairman of the
Task Force for Northern Development agreed to disburse Rs.
325,000 to construct houses for IDPs returning to their
villages for resettlement, in addition to the Rs. 25,000
relief assistance. The announcement by the Government that
resettlement of all IDPs in transitional centres in Vavuniya
and Chettikulam will be completed before January 31, 2010
under the ‘Northern Spring Program’ is another matter of
great consolation, he said.
“People have lost everything they owned
and they have to start life afresh.
We are confident that the Government will
do everything, including mobilisation of international,
support for their resettlement”, he said. |
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