Muslim Council to take up issue of Northern IDPs at confab

Saturday, 10 November 2012 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has actively taken up the issue of evicted Northern Muslims, which now stands unresolved in its 22nd year.

In October 1990, more than 60,000 Muslim people were evicted by the LTTE from the Northern Province. Following this eviction, they were mainly accommodated in Puttalam District and other districts in the southern part of Sri Lanka.

They were continuously languishing in welfare centers until the end of the civil war, except for a smaller number who have integrated in the place of displacement. After the end of the war and with the restoration of normalcy, these evicted Muslims have expressed their willingness to return to their place of origin.

Around 22,000 displaced families were resettled across the Northern Province but now they say they do not have their original residences, but were given alternative lands without basic facilities and means of livelihood.

Furthermore, their second generation has been born and as a result, the community has grown beyond 125,000 from the original 80,000 displaced, who have deregistered themselves from their places of displacement and have registered in their place of origin.

“The sad part about their return and resettlement process is that these returnees have not been resettled properly and effectively, mainly due to want of shelter, water and other basic infrastructure facilities,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of industry and Commerce and Vanni District MP.

Titled ‘Commemorating the 22nd year of the Forcible Eviction of Muslims from the Northern Province,’ the conference will be held on the afternoon of 16 November at the BMICH. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development will be the Chief Guest and will be joined by Gunarathna Weerakoone, Minister of Resettlement. High level Muslim community members, dignitaries and stakeholders are expected to attend the occasion.