Reports on IDPs exaggerated - Rambukwella

by Harischandra Gunaratna-The Island

Defence Spokesman, minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday denied exaggerated reports about the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have crossed over to the government controlled areas. Some reports indicated the number of IDPs at 200,000 but it was nowhere near that, he said. The correct count is around 52,447 and they are being resettled in the areas from where they fled.

"The government is not shirking its responsibility.we do not just put them in camps,but ensure that they are re-settled in the areas where they lived before." the minister said.Their security is of prime concern and the government has to look into this aspect very seriously. When resettling the IDPs,we have provided them with the basic amenities such as food,water,sanitation with electricity and other infrastructure he said.

He was Addressing the weekly defence briefing.

"Forty five thousand IDPs who fled from Muttur to Kantalai last year were resettled in their home areas after a conducive environment had been created he said. At first they refused to return to these areas fearing the LTTE the Minister said.

The Minister said that there is a story woven by certain interested parties that IDPs are settled back in these areas on an ethnic basis. He said the IDPs have the basic right to chose where they want to live in this country and they are settled in the areas where they originally lived.