The Concerned Tamils of Sri Lanka in a media release have stated that they were disturbed by persistent reports of continuing lack of adequate shelter, privacy, water, toilet and bathing facilities, nutrition, and medical services as well as other grave ills, notably disappearances, in several of the detention centres.

They said in the interest of all concerned the detention centres should become more accessible immediately and, progressively, converted into welfare centres that contain only those few who might choose to remain for a short period. They could opt to remain briefly on account of any unavoidable delay in getting back to the homesteads that they had vacated and have no other home to move in to as an interim measure.

The statement also said "it should be clear to all that what the IDPs seek and yearn for, is to get away from their barbed wire enclosures. The first step towards restoring their sense of dignity is to erase their sense of being held captive. They are counting days when they will be released to get back to their homes in the locations of their original domicile and breathe an air of freedom". To facilitate their movement back to their villages and familiar surroundings, they said one imperative was to clearly identify un-mined or already de-mined areas. Resettlement could begin immediately in those areas. To initiate that process each family would need an initial grant of at least Rs.50,000 for essential minimal repairs, purchase of household effects, etc in addition to food rations for a limited period.

 "It is presumed that the delay in releasing IDPs from the detention centres is because they have not yet been screened for LTTE affiliation or else their homesteads and surroundings have not yet been de-mined. It is essential that these two processes should be planned and coordinated as per published time table so that detainees can be released in batches, many almost immediately and others as early as possible. Everyone will then be aware of the likely time of their release. If this is done AGA division by division, the congestion in the detention centres as well as the competition for resources among those due to be released subsequently will ease immediately and then continue to ease further week by week". Such a programme would immeasurably enhance the spirit of the IDPs by removing any fears of indefinite detention, generate good relationship between the IDPs and the camp authorities, and enable all concerned to plan ahead. It would also attract much resources and create considerable goodwill locally and oversees.

"We know from the past experience of communities compelled to leave their homes on account of violence or fear of violence, that lengthy periods of temporary relocation could lead to unending social and political problems that may continue to undermine inter-ethnic relations and national unity. A planned, phased and transparent programme of resettlement in the original homesteads will also help to attract considerable resources to facilitate such resettlement and related rehabilitation and reconstruction".