Resettling IDPs Top Priority for Lanka Govt

While pledging speedy rehabilitation of those displaced in its ‘decisive war’ against Tiger rebels, the Sri Lankan government has urged Tamil civilians ensure that they are not taken in again by militant outfits like the LTTE.

Rehabilitation and Disaster Relief Minister, Rishard Bathiudeen, asked people of the north and east not to be deceived by “terrorists again as some elements were attempting to make political mileage out of the people’s problems.”

Addressing a public meeting at the Vavuniya for seeing off the displaced persons to east, he stressed that the government was doing all it could for rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced People (IDP).

He noted that several former rebel leaders had joined the political mainstream.

Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa called on the IDPs to set aside ethnic and religious differences and rally behind President Mahinda Rajapaksa to bring peace and prosperity to the island nation.

He claimed that following the defeat of the Tiger rebels, resettling IDPs at their original places of residence was the topmost priority for President Rajapaksa.