One year after the victory of the security forces over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) , the Sri Lankan government says that more than 2,20,000 of the war displaced Tamil civilians have been re-settled. <br/><br/>During the last phase of the war, nearly three lakh civilians had crossed over to the government controlled areas and they had been kept in various relief centres in Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna. <br/><br/>According to the Chief Co-ordinating Officer of the Competent Office for the IDPs , only 62 810 IDPs are remaining in Menik Farm relief village,. Out of them, 29,038 IDPs are outside the centers using the Government granted free movement.<br/><br/>By the end of May , the government plans to resettle 7000 more Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The number of IDP centers and relief villages in Vavuniya has also reduced due to the resettlement process. Only 6 relief villages are remaining out of the initial 11 relief villages in Menik Farm. The IDP center at Mannar was closed yesterday (18 May) due to the completion of resettlement.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, commenting on the postponement of the anniversary victory celebrations due to heavy rains, former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka’s party said that there was a divine message that the general who secured victory was denied the credit he deserves.<br/><br/>DNA party spokesperson Tilvin Silva said that "Even nature is angry about this unjust incarceration and that is why thunder and rain forced the government to abort the celebrations of the military parade’ in Colombo.<br/><br/>Retired General Sarath Fonseka, who led the victorious Sri Lankan army against the LTTE, is currently under military detention and facing two courts martial. He has been charged with indulging in politics while in uniform and corrupt arms purchases.<br/><br/>Fonseka had also unsuccessfully contested the Presidential election against Mahinda Rajapaksa. Later in the Parliamentary election, he was elected from the Colombo parliamentary constituency from the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Party.
News On AIR | May 19, 2010 8:31 PM
More than 2,20,000 of war displaced Tamil civilians have been re-settled: Sri Lankan govt.