Uprooted families from Vadamaraadchi East, Pa’lai to be resettled

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 September 2010, 06:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka government authorities in Jaffna have announced that uprooted families from Pa’lai Divisional Secretary area and Vadamaraadchi East in Jaffna district will be resettled in their own villages 9 and 10 September. The announcement comes in the wake of the recent meeting held on this issue between Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander and Jaffna Government Agent in Palaali Military head office. Though similar announcements had been made on resettling the uprooted families from Valikaamam North SLA High Security Zone earlier, so far they had not been allowed to resettle by SLA. The uprooted families now held in interim camps said that they will believe the announcement only when it becomes a reality.

7,531 persons of 2,455 families from Pa’lai and Vadamaraadchi East held in Raamaavil and Kudaththanai camps are to be resettled in their villages according to the announcement.

People will also be resettled in Iyakkachchi and Mukaavil villages in Pa’lai Divisional Secretary area.

The first stage of resettlement will take place in the villages of Chempianpattu North and South, Maruthangkea’ni, Vaththaraayan, Uduththu’rai and Aazhiyava’lai.

The resettled people will be allowed to engage in fishing in the above villages, SLA authorities said.

The procedures of resettlement were discussed Thursday in District Divisional Secretariat Coordination Committee meeting.

Jaffna District Secretariat is taking steps to close down the refugee camps in Raamaavil and Kudaththanai.