The government is planning to resettle as many internally displaced persons as possible in the area west of the A9 before tackling resettlement in the Vanni east. The army is of the opinion that all its efforts should be directed at clearing the western part of the Vanni in keeping with the original plan, though some have called for simultaneous resettlement of the displaced on both sides of the A9.
Northern Province Governor Major General (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri yesterday said that the army and five demining agencies had been engaged in mine clearing operations in the Yodawewa area.
In a brief interview with The Island, the former Jaffna Security Forces Commander said the recent deployment of ten mine clearing machines bought from Slovakia and Croatia would help them clear the area (approximately 7,000 acres) north of Yodawewa by the third week of October. Read more ...
Monday, September 14, 2009
Haphazard resettlement will endanger IDPs’ lives -- Keheliya
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was not ready to go by the agendas set by foreigners regarding the resettlement of IDPs, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister and State Defence Spokesman Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella told the media in Kandy yesterday (13).
The minister said he granted that there were difficulties besetting IDPs in their temporary shelters but everything possible was being done to make their stay comfortable and to resettle them speedily. He said Sri Lanka could do without unsolicited advice from foreigners in carrying out those tasks for her own people. Read more ...
The minister said he granted that there were difficulties besetting IDPs in their temporary shelters but everything possible was being done to make their stay comfortable and to resettle them speedily. He said Sri Lanka could do without unsolicited advice from foreigners in carrying out those tasks for her own people. Read more ...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More than 2,000 apply to take in IDP relatives
Vavuniya and Jaffna District Secretariats have received more than 2,000 applications from the relatives of the IDPs, after the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry informed the general public that the relatives of the IDPs can apply for the release of those residing in camps.
“Many people have been handing forms over to us since September 10 and so far we have received approximately 1,000 applications,” said Vavuniya District Additional Government Agent T. Sampanthan. “These applications are readily available outside the District Secretariat office and in shops. Also, relatives can prepare them even at home,” he added.
Sampanthan said that they will hand over the applications to the security forces, with their observations and recommendations as soon as possible. He could not give a timeline as to when these IDPs can be reunited with their relatives, since a thorough background check has to be carried out first. “After we look at the applications, we do background research and hand over the applications to the Security Forces Headquarters, Vavuniya with our remarks and the security establishment will take the final decision,” he said. Meanwhile, an official of the Jaffna District Secretariat told The Nation that they have also received around 1,000 applications: “There is a lot of enthusiasm about this,” he said. Read more ...
“Many people have been handing forms over to us since September 10 and so far we have received approximately 1,000 applications,” said Vavuniya District Additional Government Agent T. Sampanthan. “These applications are readily available outside the District Secretariat office and in shops. Also, relatives can prepare them even at home,” he added.
Sampanthan said that they will hand over the applications to the security forces, with their observations and recommendations as soon as possible. He could not give a timeline as to when these IDPs can be reunited with their relatives, since a thorough background check has to be carried out first. “After we look at the applications, we do background research and hand over the applications to the Security Forces Headquarters, Vavuniya with our remarks and the security establishment will take the final decision,” he said. Meanwhile, an official of the Jaffna District Secretariat told The Nation that they have also received around 1,000 applications: “There is a lot of enthusiasm about this,” he said. Read more ...
Contentious resettlement issue in the Jaffna HSZ being resolved
One of the most contentious issues in Jaffna, the resettling of civilians in the High Security Zone is finally going to be resolved with civilians now expected to be resettled in the 300 metre buffer zone bordering the HSZ before December as a first step.
Jaffna High Court Judge R.T. Vignarajah who chairs the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to evaluate the problem and submit a report to court said last night that at their last meeting held the previous weekend, Jaffna GA informed the Committee that all mines had been cleared from the buffer zone and it was now a matter of submitting a list of people who are eligible to resettle there and for the army to check the veracity of the list.
Jaffna Military Commander Maj. Gen. L.B.R. Mark, who is a member of the Committee, according to the High Court Judge, had even remarked that it should be done before December so that resettled people will have time to enter their children to schools in the area for the new school year. Read more ...
Jaffna High Court Judge R.T. Vignarajah who chairs the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to evaluate the problem and submit a report to court said last night that at their last meeting held the previous weekend, Jaffna GA informed the Committee that all mines had been cleared from the buffer zone and it was now a matter of submitting a list of people who are eligible to resettle there and for the army to check the veracity of the list.
Jaffna Military Commander Maj. Gen. L.B.R. Mark, who is a member of the Committee, according to the High Court Judge, had even remarked that it should be done before December so that resettled people will have time to enter their children to schools in the area for the new school year. Read more ...
Friday, September 11, 2009
Conditions in welfare villages excellent - Alok Prasad
"The conditions in relief villages in Sri Lanka are excellent compared to other countries and the facilities provided by the Sri Lankan Government to the people in relief villages are praiseworthy", said H.E Alok Prasad, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka addressing a gathering in Colombo recently.
"Such the standard of these villages are outstanding and excellent", High Commissioner Alok Prasad was further quoted as saying at the event held in appreciation of the services provided by the Indian medical team.
The Indian medical team was in the island to uplift the health facilities of the civilians liberated from the terrorists. Read more ...
"Such the standard of these villages are outstanding and excellent", High Commissioner Alok Prasad was further quoted as saying at the event held in appreciation of the services provided by the Indian medical team.
The Indian medical team was in the island to uplift the health facilities of the civilians liberated from the terrorists. Read more ...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
2,000 more acres cleared of mines in Mannar of Northwestern Sri Lanka
About 2,000 acres of paddy fields in Yodha Wewa area in the Mannar District have been cleared from mines by the Sri Lanka Army.
The Army said that the farmers would now be able to commence cultivations in these lands for the next season.
Army said that measures have been taken to cultivate about 2,000 acres of paddy fields in Jaffna peninsula as well. Read more ...
The Army said that the farmers would now be able to commence cultivations in these lands for the next season.
Army said that measures have been taken to cultivate about 2,000 acres of paddy fields in Jaffna peninsula as well. Read more ...
SRI LANKA: Government to release IDPs to relatives
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps in Sri Lanka’s north will be released to their relatives, and the government expects the majority to be resettled by early next year, says a minister.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Rishad Bathiudeen, told IRIN on 10 September that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had made the decision to allow the IDPs to live with their relatives, with effect from this week.
Bathiudeen said the government could not say how many people would be released, but that it would consider all applications from relatives outside the camps.
“If the application comes, we will attend to it,” said Bathiudeen. Read more ..
Official Government Announcement
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Rishad Bathiudeen, told IRIN on 10 September that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had made the decision to allow the IDPs to live with their relatives, with effect from this week.
Bathiudeen said the government could not say how many people would be released, but that it would consider all applications from relatives outside the camps.
“If the application comes, we will attend to it,” said Bathiudeen. Read more ..
Official Government Announcement
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