43 more Lankan Tamil refugees to return from Tamil Nadu this week

Forty three Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from Tamil Nadu, India are set to arrive in Sri Lanka on 9thFebruary under the UNHCR facilitated voluntary repatriation program. They are scheduled to arrive by SriLankan Airlines from Trichy and Mihin Lanka Airlines from Chennai and Madurai.

Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, D.M.Swaminathan, in negotiation with the UNHCR and cooperative assistance of the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development, SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka Airlines, facilitated to obtain increased the baggage allowance per person.

Secretary, Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs  V.Sivagnanasothy  confirmed that of the 43 refugee returnees 24 are males and 19 are females. These refugee returnees will get back to Trincomalee, Jaffna,Vavuniya, Mullaithivu, Kilinochchci and Mannar.

The  UNHCR will provide free air tickets, a reintegration allowance of $ 75 per person, transport allowance of $ 19 per person and monitory non-food grants of $ 75 per family. Since 2011, more than 5600 refugees  have returned to Sri Lanka according to  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 of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M.Swaminathan, put up a Cabinet paper seeking financial support to provide livelihood assistance to the refugee returnees, which is now being referred to the national planning authorities to consider with the comprehensive project proposal. 

The provision of dry rations has also been approved for 6 months. The Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries Authority (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 sustained. 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.