41 Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu to return to SL next week

Forty one Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from  Tamil Nadu, India are arriving in Sri Lanka on 19 January under a  UNHCR facilitated voluntary repatriation program. 

Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs,  D.M.Swaminathan  had a discussion with the UNHCR and facilitated the process also increasing the baggage allowance from 40kg to 60 kg per person with cooperation of the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and Mihin Lanka air Lines

Secretary, Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs V.Sivagnanasothy confirmed that of the 41 refugee returnees 15 are males and 26 are females. These refugee returnees will get back to Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu.

Further, the UNHCR provides free air tickets, reintegration allowance of $ 75 per person, transport allowance of $ 19 per person and a monitory non-food grant of $ 75 per family. In 2015, already 429 refugees have returned to Sri Lanka according to the Ministry Secretary V.Sivagnanasothy. Over 64,000 are stationed in 109 welfare camps in India. In total  over 100,000 refugees are currently in India. 

Minister Swaminathan put up a Cabinet paper seeking financial support to provide livelihood assistance to the refugee returnees which has now been referred to the national planning authorities to consider with the comprehensive project proposal. 

The  provision of dry rations has also been already approved for 6 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. Ministry Secretary V.Sivagnansothy informed that the refugees who lost their houses will be provided with houses under the 65,000 housing program of the Ministry. The Government of Sri Lanka 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.