Last batch of IDPs to be resettled by Tuesday

The Government says that the last batch of the internally displaced persons due to the war will be resettled in their villages tomorrow.

With that the last refugee camp set up after the end of war in May 2009 will be closed, the Government says.

Over 2,000 people belonging to 617 families still live in refugee camps and they are to be resettled on Tuesday. Government says that the resettlement was delayed due to removal of landmines. Government sources further say that the resettlement is a preliminary need for holding elections for the Northern Provincial Council. The Government has decided to commence preparation of voters’ lists following the resettlement of all IDPs and to hold the elections in the Northern Province next year. The Government says it has spent US$ 360 million to resettle the 98 percent of the 290,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) housed in welfare centres at the end of May 2009 when the 30-year armed conflict against the Tamil Tiger terrorists in the North and East came to an end.