35 Lankan Tamil refugees from Madurai and Chennai arrive

Thirty five Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, India arrived yesterday in Sri Lanka under the UNHCR facilitated voluntary repatriation program. 

The Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs had a discussion with the UNHCR and facilitated the process and increased the baggage allowance per person with assistance of the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and Mihin Lanka Airlines. 

Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy confirmed that of the 35 refugee returnees 11 were males and 24 are females. These refugee returnees will get back to Mannar, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee.

Further, the UNHCR provides free air tickets, reintegration allowance of $ 75 per person, transport allowance $ 19 per person and monitory non-food grant of $ 75 per family. Since 2011, already 4,835 refugees (1,754 families) have returned to Sri Lanka, said Sivagnanasothy. Over 64,000 are stationed in 109 welfare camps in India. Totally, over 100,000 refugees are currently in India. Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M. Swaminathan initiated a Cabinet paper on which livelihood assistance of maximum Rs. 100,000 to refugee returnees is provided to support the livelihood activities.

Further, the provision of dry ration has been already approved for six months. The REPPIA has been instructed by the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs to provide compensation for those who have lost their houses and suffered loss of lives of kith and kin and for injuries. Sivagnansothy informed that the refugees who lost their houses will be provided with houses under the housing program of the Ministry. The Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena has initiated action to encourage the voluntary refugee returnee program on a phased out basis and the current trend of increased refugee returnees is a sign of reconciliation and moving towards permanent peace said the Ministry Secretary.