The Government yesterday said over 15,000 IDP families from the Jaffna district will be resettled in their original homes soon.
According to Resettlement and Relief Services Minister Rishad Badiudeen, the authorities have already identified over 15,000 displaced families who claim themselves to be the residents of Jaffna and their details have been forwarded to the authorities in the Jaffna district.
These families are now living in welfare centres in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.
“We have already sent the details of over 15,000 families to the Police , Jaffna Government Agent and respective Divisional Secretariats to ascertain whether they are permanent residents in the Jaffna district”.
The Minister stressed that they would be resettled in their original homes in the Jaffna district after the Government officials gave an assurance that they are permanent residents of the Jaffna district.
“The Presidential Task Force on Northern Development under the chairmanship of Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa is working tirelessly to expedite the demining process to facilitate the resettlement drive and it is committed to resettled as much displaced civilians as possible within the time frame of 180 days, the Minister said.
The Security Forces and teams from India and various NGOs are in the process of clearing mines in residential areas in the north and resettlement would be started on the completion of this process.
“We have no hidden agenda as some international and local elements say. We focus on how mines could be cleared of the area where the civilians are going to be resettled, he added. The Minister denied media reports to the effect that welfare centres where the displaced families have been given temporary accommodation were inundated as a result of heavy rains.
He said the Vavuniya district experienced torrential rains with the onset of the monsoon and several temporary shelters were affected as a result of poor drainage system. These affected families numbering 40 were immediately shifted to a former welfare centre.
By : Chaminda Perera
Courtesy: Daily News