35 SL refugees to return from TN on 14 June

Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy

Some 35 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, India, are set to arrive in Sri Lanka under a UNHRC facilitated voluntary repatriation program next week. The group will arrive in two batches on Tuesday 14 June, one consisting 17 persons (6 families) scheduled to arrive through Mihin Lanka Airlines (MJ 308) at 09.15 a.m. from Madurai and another 18 persons (7 families) scheduled to arrive through Mihin Lanka Airlines (MJ 130) at 11.45 a.m. from Chennai. Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D. M. Swaminathan held discussions with the UNHCR in order to facilitate the process and was able to increase the baggage allowance per person with assistance of the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and Mihin Lanka Airlines.

Ministry Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy confirmed that of the 35 refugee returnees, 18 are males and 17 are females. These refugee returnees will return to Trincomalee, Mannar, Matale, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna.

The UNHCR provides free air tickets, a reintegration allowance of US$ 75 per person, a transport allowance US$ 19 per person and a monitory non-food grant of US$ 75 per family. Since 2011, 4,764 refugees (1,728 Families) have already returned to Sri Lanka, said Sivagnanasothy, while over 64,000 are stationed in 109 welfare camps in India. A total of over 100,000 refugees still remain in India. Minister Swaminathan initiated a Cabinet paper on which a livelihood assistance of maximum Rs. 100,000 is provided to to refugee returnees to support their livelihood activities.

Provision of dry ration has been already approved for a period of six months. The REPPIA has been instructed by the Ministry of Rehabilitation to provide compensation for those who have lost their houses and suffered injuries and loss of lives of kith and kin. According to Sivagnansothy, 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.