Out of 47 welfare centres, in Vavuniya, set up to shelter over 280,000 displaced civilians in the North in 2009, 42 centres have been closed with the rapid progress in the resettlement program.
The Competent Authority on resettlement in the North Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne said over 265,000 civilians had returned to their villages.
He said the resettling the remaining displaced civilians would be completed before the end of this year.
“ There are 27,000 civilians to be resettled but only 10,000 of them live in welfare centres. They are given freedom to engage in their livelihood and return to the centres”, he said.
The resettled family is given Rs. 25,000, other necessary items to put up shelters and dry rations for three months by the government.