http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/11/11/fea09.asp

Reintegrating displaced persons into national economy, a success

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement, Janaka Sugathadasa

When three decades of conflict which displaced so many thousands of people in the Northern and the Eastern part of the country, the Government of Sri Lanka, at the end of the humanitarian operation in May 2009, was entrusted with the task of resettling those people displaced by the conflict. The process which commenced just three months after the completion of the humanitarian operation saw a successful end in September 2012, once the government closed the world's biggest Displaced Persons Centre, Menik Farm in Vavuniya with the last batch of Displaced Persons sent back to their village in Mullaitivu. That marked the end of the resettlement and relocation programs of the people who have been displaced during the humanitarian operation from July 2006 to May 2009. Was that the end of the resettlement program was the question in the minds of people who were closely following this process. The Sunday Observer interviewed the Secretary to the Resettlement Ministry, Janaka Sugathadasa to get a clear view about the current Displaced Persons situation in Sri Lanka and the resettlement program.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: There was news that the Menik Farm Displaced Persons Centre was closed in September after the last batch of th IDPs returned to the Mullaitivu district. Does that mean that the resettlement process is also over now?

A: The Menik Farm Displaced Persons camp in one way was the biggest camp in the world which housed displaced people. At Menik Farm at the peak we had 297,000 people. These persons are either resettled or relocated and Menik Farm is closed now. Technically that does not mean that the resettlement process is over. We have many more things to do. For example in the Jaffna district we have 42 welfare centres. There we have 1,336 families with 4,866 people. Apart from that we have 6,969 families living with friends and relatives.

They are also internally displaced due to the High Security Zones set up way back in the 1990's. They have been in a protracted situation for almost 20 years. They have to go back to their original villages. To resettle them there are practical problems. The Government has to take a decision on the High Security Zone.

As far as the Menik Farm facility is concerned that is closed and all the Displaced Persons of Menik Farm are settled. But there are other displaced persons in various pockets.

Q: Are there any others to be resettled apart from the people in Jaffna?

A: Apart from Jaffna we have about 1,218 families in Sampur in Trincomalee. They are also displaced and as a result of the conflict situation they were unable to get back to their villages of origin due to the declaration of the new Special Economic Zone in Sampur now they are in a bit of a displaced situation.

Q: What are the plans to resettle them?

A: The Government is looking at ways of resettling these two categories in the Jaffna peninsula and in Sampur. There is Fundamental Rights case about the High Security Zones issue and we are waiting for legal matters to be settled to resettle and relocate those people. The Government's position is that if these people were displaced due to the declaration of the High Security Zone, the authorities concern will have to pay them compensation under the normal law and under the Land Acquisition Act. That should be done by the relevant authorities and not by the Resettlement Ministry. But as long as they live in camps we will maintain the camps.

Q: Do you have any program to provide housing units for the people who have been relocated?

A: Yes we have. Last week we commenced a scheme in Kepavilavu in Mullaitivu. We are putting up 155 houses for relocated families. They were originally from Menik Farm and they could not go back to the original homes as the military is still occupying their village but the Mullaitivu Government Agent has allocated bare land to relocate them. We are constructing 155 houses. These families right now are living in temporary shelters put up by the Sri Lanka Army. On the instructions of the Minister, we inaugurated this housing scheme last week. The Government is building 155 new houses plus a model village with basic facilities such as school, a preschool and a community centre.

Q: So many houses in the conflict affected area were damaged. How many houses have to be built to meet that requirement?

A: The Tentative estimate is that 100,000 houses have been damaged. The Indian Government is providing 50,000 new houses. Under the first phase they have constructed 1000 new houses and in the second phase they will construct 49,000 new houses. The Presidential Task Force for resettlement is handling this project. Divisional Secretaries have been entrusted to identify potential beneficiaries. Once the beneficiaries are identified, construction will begin. In another three years we will have 50,000 new houses for these displaced people. With this Indian housing scheme and other programs which are being implemented by various Agencies and NGOs, I think the remaining requirement is around 15,000 to 16,000. This is a manageable figure.

Q: How long will it take to resettle them?

A: That depends on the situation. As I mentioned earlier the resettlement of people displaced during the humanitarian operation is over. But there are some pockets to be cleared. They are in protracted displacement since the 1990's. Apart from them we have another 68,000 people of Sri Lankan origin living in 140 odd camps in South India and a further 28,000 living with friends and relatives. Now under the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendation they are encouraged to return.

We want to expedite the process of bringing those Sri Lankans back to the country. Towards this end we are working closely with the UNHCR, the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence. Last week 60 odd people from India returned to Sri Lanka and of course we want them to come back and they are encouraged to return.

Q: Bringing them back to their places of origin alone does not complete the resettlement process. What are the mechanisms put in place to see that their lives are returning to normal?

A: I think the first step is either the relocation or resettlement. Once they have a house we have to look at livelihood development. If they are fishermen they have to be provided with fishing gear, if they are farmers they should be provided with necessary equipment. There are various other government agencies involved in this process and the Ministry of Resettlement is not involved in that process. But the Ministry of Economic Development, Provincial Councils and other line agencies are involved in providing livelihood development assistance. Eventually these resettled or relocated communities have to be reintegrated with the national economy. This is a long-drawn process. Capacity has to be enhanced and their skills have to be developed. As the Ministry of Resettlement, we are talking about shattered families, shattered villages and shattered communities. If you take certain districts like Mullaitivu almost all the people there were displaced. You have to rebuild the entire district.

Q: Is there any central agency to monitor all these activities?

A: The Resettlement Authority is the central agency looking after all these aspects. The Ministry of Economic Development and the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement are monitoring the other developments relating to resettled people.

Q: There is a perception that the Ministry of Resettlement is no longer required after the completion of the resettlement process. What is the current position of the Ministry and its role?

A: The Resettlement Authority functioning under our Ministry, had a fixed term of six years. It was set up six years back and it was due to expire on April 10, 2013. Last week the Cabinet decided to extend its term by a further period of three years. That means there is enough work to be done and enough room for our engagement with the resettlement program. However, that is for the Resettlement Authority but not the Resettlement Ministry. It is at the discretion of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to decide whether the Ministry should be there or not.

Q: There was a lot of criticism about the closure of the Menik Farm saying that the people there were relocated but not resettled. Likewise there were many criticisms by the international community about the resettlement program. How do you see those criticisms?

A: I think these criticisms are unfair. Unfair in the sense you have to see the bigger picture. As I said we have resettled and relocated 297,000 families. Only 500 families could not be resettled in the places of origin. For them also we have provided alternate houses because the Government has the moral responsibility to do so. Even for the 110 families relocated in the Kepavilavu area in the Mullaitivu we have taken the initiative to provide alternative houses. The Government takes the moral responsibility seriously and that is why we are putting up new model village for villagers as their original village cannot be given back to them due to security reasons. We have relocated only 5,000 families and see the percentage of families. Based on that people are criticizing the resettlement program.

This is sentimental. I know they are keen to go back to their original habitat. But there are issues. When the Mahaweli development scheme was initiated how many families were displaced? Entire townships were submerged in the Mahaweli scheme. When the settlement schemes were introduced way back in the 1920's and 1930's by D.S. Senanayake how many families were sent to those schemes.

We have a history of settlement and resettlement. Even at that time there was criticism. But look at the situation today. So this is how life is going on. I think these criticisms are unfounded and unfair. At the end of the day, the people who have been relocated will be happy.

Q: How do you compare the resettlement program implemented in Sri Lanka with the resettlement programs implemented in conflict affected countries in other parts of the world?

A: I think I do not need to comment on this because the international community has expressed their views about the success of our resettlement program on many occasions. Even the UN Secretary General and other UN officials have publicly spoken on the success of this program. We have so many foreign ambassadors who have spoken highly of our resettlement program. That was done within the course of three years. We have resettled 297,000 families. This is a remarkable achievement.

Q: What were the contributing factors for the success of this?

A: I would say the unity and coordination of the tri-forces civilian administration and our political leadership by our President. It was a team effort. Without the assistance of the tri-forces I don't think we would have been able to do all these things. They are engaged in construction of houses.

Q: Finally, as the Ministry of Resettlement what is the end task that you are aiming at?

A: Our end task is to reintegrate former displaced persons into the national economy and improve their living standards. We would like to see them as productive members of society empowered and contribute positively to the economic development process.