Displaced by conflict, 4,182 families still awaiting resettlement

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Eleven thousand five hundred and fifty one (11,551) persons belonging to 4,182 families, displaced during the war in the North and the East, have not been resettled, the 2020 progress report of the State Ministry of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Materials Industries Promotion reveals.

Since the end of the war the resettlement authorities have resettled 565,335 persons from 176,143 families in the Northern Province, and 338,306 persons belonging to 91,310 families in the Eastern Province in their original places or in alternative places.

“The Resettlement Division also resettles families who returned to Sri Lanka after they fled to India during the conflict and returned. It also conducts de-mining activities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces together with the Army and nongovernmental organisations (Mines Advisory Group, HALO Trust, Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony, SKAVITA Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project) and takes necessary measures to return the lands to the public,” the report said.

By the end of 2020, 1302.24 square kilometers had been cleared and released for resettlement and development activities. Further, an area of 14.15 sq. km remains to be cleared in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts.

The report says: “The Resettlement Division received Rs.5.7 billion to implement development projects recommended for the year 2020. They were spent on displaced persons and to provide welfare services for the people who live in welfare centres and with friends and relatives with the expectation of resettlement. In 2020, the Ministry has initiated development programmes to provide housing facilities, water facilities, sanitation facilities and other basic infrastructure as well as livelihood facilities for the people in areas affected due to the conflict and for the returnee refugees.”

However, 56.75% of Rs. 5.7 billion has been spent, i.e. Rs.3.2 billion.

The State Ministry says that when implementing projects priority is given to the families with disabled persons, women-headed families, low-income families, families with persons reintegrated into society after rehabilitation and families residing in welfare centres as well as families residing with friends and relatives.