Sinhalese IDPs want to go home

Nearly 125 Sinhalese families, who had been chased away by the LTTE from Kokilai and Kalkudah in 1990, and are insisting that they be allowed to return to their original places of residence. They are to meet the North East Development Task Force Chairman Basil Rajapaksa MP next week, to discuss the matter.

A spokesman from Caritas Sri Lanka, the social service arm of the Catholic Church, told Daily Mirror that its officers had visited these families, following a directive from Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith and had arranged the meeting with Mr. Basil Rajapaksa to discuss the matter.

According to sources, these families are scattered currently, and are living in Negombo, Kurunegala, Kalutara and Maggona.

These families had been chased out by the LTTE on July 6, 1990.They had told Caritas officials that some of their people were killed by the LTTE while the others managed to escape. They had originally been sent to Trincomalee on the boat Suraya Weeraya and then to Polonnaruwa, after one week. These IDPs had been stuck in the Trincomalee for one week.

They have been engaging in various jobs, including fisheries and agriculture. But now they have lost all these jobs.

According to Caritas, around 20 families of this group had gone to Kalkudah recently on a visit and found their houses completely destroyed. It was reported that they still have the deeds for their property and other documents, which are written in Tamil.

Source:
DailyMirror Online, 11 November 2009
By Yohan Perera

focefully Resettled in Welika Kandy

there are 600 families were displaced in Welika kandy in 2007 and only 32 familes have been brought to the welika Kandy 18th June 2009.others have been settled in different villages close to this area.these affected people are still living in temporary shelters,before the come to the shelters they lived in the Welika Kandy school. there are 32 families in this village. I.C.R.C have provided roof materials for their shelters they don't have any infrastructures facilities, don't have a toilet. school going children are in the hostel. the parent got the permission for the hostel (accommodation) through church priest. still the affected people are unable to do anything for their livelihood so they are stuck . also this village people are affected by Elephants.these people a month ago being sold the firewood from the forest but now they are unable to do even this work.now If I want to do this work they have to get the permit form D.S office, they charged 500 rupees per permit but this affected people don't have a such a amount to pay so now they are deep in trouble.the government promised to provide corns, paddy seeds, Goats,etc.. but nothing given. they are totally disappointed. if they want to go the town they have to travel 32km from this village. they said they don't have even a bicycle so they reguest us , if possible , please provide some bicycles. they said they can do some work through that it will help their livelihood too.