Giant refugee camp planned

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE's deputy leader, Manikkam Daasan, objected strongly today to the Sri Lankan government's proposal to establish a giant refugee camp in Vavuniya to house refugees from the areas of the Vanni which do not come under the control of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and who are awaiting transport to the Jaffna peninsula, said sources in Vavuniya.

The camp is to be capable of accommodating more than 200,000 people.

The decision to set up the camp was taken at a high level security meeting held in Vavuniya on Monday under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Defence, General Anuruddha Ratwatte at which the Sri Lankan military top brass and senior government officials were present.

The PLOTE leader said that the government could spend the money which will be required to build and run the camp to send transport any Jaffna-bound people by air or sea instead.