Vavuniya refugees prefer camp life to resettlement

by P. Krishnaswamy

Refugees refusing to move away to their villages of origin from welfare camps in Vavuniya has hindered the Government's resettlement process, Vavuniya GA Ms P.S.M. Charles told the Sunday Observer.

About nine months after the defeat of terrorism, 300 refugee families housed in the Poonthottam and Sithambarapuram welfare camps, had been advised by the District Secretariat to move away to be relocated in their districts of origin with all assistance provided under the Government's resettlement program, the GA said.

The families housed in welfare camps for over 12 years were from Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Trincomalee and the Vavuniya districts, she said.

The efforts of the District Secretariat, in the wake of unfair criticism levelled by political parties and human rights activists over the purported slow pace of resettlement, to resettle them in their own villages, or in the vicinity with allotment of lands by the relevant district authorities, have proved futile.

They have not only refused to budge but have even formed a refugee association having appointed a leader to stage protests, the GA said.

The refugees lived in Vavuniya for over 12 years and need houses or homestead lands in Vavuniya but that is out of her jurisdiction , she said. A large number of families who have already been resettled in the other districts have also expressed a desire to return and settle down in Vavuniya, abandoning their traditional professions, she said.