Indian Foreign Secretary pledges more aid to IDPs

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Indian Foreign Secretary pledges more aid to IDPs
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao visited North yesterday, pledged more assistance to construct 50,000 permanent housing units for the war displaced in the North and the East.
The secretary, who first arrived in Vavuniya yesterday, visited the IDPs in Menik Farm Welfare Centre in Settikulam and met with the displaced persons and officials. After then , she distributed building materials among the displaced families, donated by the Indian Government.
Thereafter, she inspected de-mining process carried out by two organizations 'Sarwathra' and 'Horizon' at Mahilankulam in Omanthai under Indian assistance and instructed them to expedite the work so that the displaced persons could go back to their native places early.
"We are prepared to assist to the best of our capacity and do whatever we can," she told the media during a press conference at Omanthai.
The secretary also expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government would do its best to overcome the problems faced by the IDPs. She said that the officials had informed her that they expect to complete the resettlement of the remaining displaced, numbering around 28,000, before the time next monsoon commences. The displaced are yearning to go back to their native places, she said.
Apart from assisting the displaced persons with agriculture equipment and machinery, roofing sheets, cement, seeds and fertilizer, the Indian government would construct the rail road from Medwachchiya to Talaimannar, and would assist the Lankan government to develop infrastructural facilities in the North and the East.
She was accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Lanka Ashok K. Kantha, Governor Northern Province Maj Gen G. A. Chandrasiri, Vavuniya District Secretary V. M. S. Charles and other officials.