All IDPs to be resettled by year's end

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Northern and Eastern Provinces will be completed before the end of this year, said Resettlement Minister Gunaratna Weerakoon.

He said only 3,822 families comprising 12,616 individuals in Kilinochchi district are yet to be resettled. Over 300,000 IDPs from Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts have been resettled in their villages during the last 24 months.

The Minister said essential food packs each worth over Rs.4,500 totalling Rs.3.7 million were also donated to them, when they left their temporary shelters.

Over 257,733 persons had been resettled in Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts during the last few months. Essential food and construction material were also provided. Further relief will be provided to them until they revert to agriculture, fisheries or small industries which they had been engaged in earlier, he said.

Resettlement in the Eastern Province has been completed.

Accordingly, 36,123 families with 123,907 persons had resettled in Vavunathir, Venkaladi, Kiran, Pattipalei, Wellaveli and Vakarai divisional secretaries divisions.

Over 20,395 families with 75,190 persons in Trincomalee district had been resettled in Verugal, Muttur and Seruwila divisional Secretaries divisions.