The Government will commence its programme to resettle IDPs from the Mannar District tomorrow (30) with the participation of high ranking politicians, Presidential Secretariat sources said yesterday

Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Rishard A. Badhuideen said the Treasury would fund the initial cost of the resettlement programme. The Resettlement of IDPs under the Uthuru Vasanthaye programme was being implemented on the lines of the Nagenahira Navodaya Programme in the Eastern Province.

Minister Badhuideen, formerly a displaced person from the Mannar District said that the gratitude of all should go Secretary of Defence Col. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the valiant members of the Security Forces and Police for liberating the district from the clutches of the LTTE terrorists making way for the innocent civilians to be resettled.

If not for Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa who had been a tower of strength in providing advice, assistance and directing those concerned to carry out demining in the district matters could have got further delayed, he said.

Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services U. L. M. Halaldeen said that all the IDPs, some of whom were living in the Puttalam District, will be resettled only with their consent.

"Initially we have identified 409 persons belonging to 122 families who were displaced in September 2007 and now living in Welfare camps in Nanattan in Mannar. They will be resettled in their former places of residence as Saveriyerrpuram in Musali Divisional secretariat area.

Mannar District Secretary Nicholas Pillai said that at an auspicious time tomorrow the IDPs will be taken in several buses and resettled following a ceremony.