Over 40,000 IDPs being resettled in 4 Northern Districts

Over 40,000 IDPs being resettled in 4 Northern Districts
The resettlement process of Internally Displaced Persons to former LTTE controlled areas in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Kilinochchi began this morning, (Oct 22). A total of 41685 IDPs have begun the resettlement process in these Districts.
Under this process, 8643 persons of 2583 families will be resettled in Vavuniya District while 6631 persons from 2644 families will be resettled in Mannar District.
16394 persons of 4415 families will be resettled in Mullaitivu District and another group of 10017 persons of 2453 families will be resettled in Kilinochchi District.
Meanwhile the government has taken many actions to assist the IDPs to resume routine activities.
Almost 40,000 children are attending classes in welfare centers and that the government had facilitated 1,187 students to sit the GCE/ Advanced Level examination in August this year of which 166 were LTTE surrendees. This clearly reflects the emphasis the Government had placed on the long term welfare of the IDPs.
A notable progress has also been made in the health sector with the reduction of annual mortality rates to only 4.4 per 1000 in the welfare centers in Vavuniya, which is compatible with any other part of the country, symbolizing the significant achievement in stabilization of the health facilities for the IDPs.
The letter given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to each IDP family that is being resettled from today.
My Dear Citizens
I write to you at an important time you when you are on the threshold of a new beginning in life. You are today being moved to the familiar surroundings of your former home, or very close to it.
I am aware that the sufferings your family have undergone are many, and for very long too. These hardships were imposed on you and all other Tamil citizens who have suffered alike, by a ruthless organization that was committed to terror to achieve its narrow objectives, for which the Tamil people were made unwilling pawns. They claimed to be the liberators of the noble Tamil community. As their strategies began to fail, you were herded from place to place, and denied the food, medicine and other essentials that were sent for you. Your children, and even the elders among you, were compelled to carry arms for these forces of terror..
I fully understand that this was not the aspiration of the Tamil people of our country. Finally, you were made displaced persons in your own motherland, after holding you as human shields and hostages for the safety of those who shed so much blood of your own people. Your innocence in all this is recognized today.
That period of immense tragedy is now over, as are the temporary hardships you faced as internally displaced persons. You are moving on to a new life, in the company of family and friends. You will find new and welcome challenges of the future. My Government has done much to make your new life most acceptable to you, providing the needs for a quality of life to enhance your dignity as a person.
The most cherished asset you have today are your children, who you have sheltered as best as your could. This is the time to ensure that your children are guided by you to benefit from the new facilities that are being provided for them and ensure that they are never again allowed to be misled by false prophets or saviours. Together you can build a new life and look to benefit from the many opportunities that will be available in the tranquility of peace and friendship.
I wish you and your family every success and the choicest blessings for the future, with your dreams of success coming true, when we can all live together as members of a single family in our motherland.
Sincerely
Courtesy: priu.gov.lk