The visiting 3-Member delegation led by Mr. Kamal Morjane, United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees met Mr. Noordeen Mashoor, Minister of Vanni Rehabilitation on Wedbesday (14) at his Ministry Office in Colombo to discuss the present situation of the internally displaced persons in the Northern Province.

Ministry sources said that Minister Noordeen Mashoor appealed to the visiting delegation to extend its fullest support to assist the Sri Lankan Government in its effort to resettle the displaced persons in the war-torn areas of the Northern Province as well as displaced Muslim persons living outside the Northern Province. The minister explained that due to the financial crisis a large number of displaced persons and refugees were unable to be resettled in their native places. The request made by Minister Mashoor to extend financial support to the displaced persons to cultivate their initial paddy cultivation, has been favourably considered by the UNHCR team.

The minister had disclosed that his ministry had taken action to resettle 3298 displaced families in their native places in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts during this year and they would be given a sum of Rs.15,000 per family under the Unified Assistance Scheme. Apart from this, 839 families which get back to their native places in the Musali and Nanaddan Divisions to undertake paddy cultivation will be paid a sum of Rs.1,000 each for implements .

The minister underlined the need for international assistance to resonstruct the Ahathimurippu Tank which feeds over 40 minor tanks in Mannar District and the reconstruction of the Baily bridge and the causeway which are in a deplorable condition, while the Puttalam - Mannar Highway is to be made motorable. This highway will reduce 74 kilometres of the existing roadway to Mannar via Medawachchiya.