Muslims expelled from Jaffna and Killinochchi by the LTTE in 1990 and now living as "Internally Displaced Persons" in the Puttlam, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts, are yet to receive dry ration stamps for this year. .

A spokesperson for the IDP’s, Moulavi B.A.S.Sufiyan told "The Island" that the IDP’s who have been living in refugee camps and temporarily in residences of there kith and kin have been pushed from the frying pan to the fire.

"When we approached the Pradeshiya Sabhas they said that the Ministry had not issued stamps to them.They also said that the Resettlement Ministry is responsible for the issue of stamps for the IDP’s in the Puttlam, Anuradapura and Kurunegala districts."

Sufiyan, said that the Resettlement Ministry in turn told them that the stamps had been handed over to the Northern Province Secretariat and distribution would be carried out by the camp officers in the relevant areas.

He, said that the adoption of a different procedure in the distribution of dry rations for the Puttlam, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala district IDP’s was discriminatory.

" In other areas it is the District Secretariat that distributes the stamps.So we cannot understand why the government has to adopt a different procedure for three districts.This would create unnecessary problems among our people."

Sufiyan, said that the IDP’s have over the years had a very satisfactory rapport with the Grama Niladharies, who have found solutions to most of their problems including registration of births and deaths, issue of poll and indentity cards and other essential services.