Resettling IDPs our first priority’

Minister of Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne said in Vavuniya that resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons is one of the priorities of the Government
“The government of Sri Lanka has given an excellent example to the entire world through the process of uprooting the terrorism, and we are responsible for future of the brotherly Tamil people who suffered from for over three decades” the Minister emphasized.
Having spoken to the IDPs in relief villages in Wanni, the Minister, D.M. Jayaratne further added that resettlement cannot be implemented haphazardly.
“The activities of creation of more defensive environment for the said purpose are being carried out rapidly. We do not need to detain these people in camps. If someone tells so, the purpose is to disgrace and make difficulties to the government but that is not the reality. If someone is of the opinion that the victory of the war is an achievement of only Sinhala, Buddhist people, that is also a wrong opinion. Every ethnic group suffered from the terrorism. Further, the investigations have already revealed that even a few representation of each such ethnic group had direct or indirect relationship with the terrorism.”
The Minister further emphasized that this is the time for the people in North to forget their past sorrowful events and make new thoughts in a new Sri Lanka without terrorism and also to improve the camaraderie.
The bulk of items valued Rs.2.5 million including rations and 7500 kg of tea collected through the institutions and companies coming under the Ministry of Plantation Industries was handed over to Wanni Commander Major General Kamal Gunarathna by the Minister in order to distribute among the displaced civilians in the camps.
Member of the Central provincial Council, Nissanka Herath, Commander of 214th Brigade Head Quarters Colonel Thilak Premathilaka, Brigadier Athula Jayasingha, Colonel Donald De Mel, Lieutenant Colonel Namal Bandara Mathuwakkara. Coordinating Secretary to the Minister, Jayasooriya Udukumbura and some other officials of the Defense and the government participated at this occasion.