Ambassador Jaliya Wickremasuriya, Sri Lanka’s envoy in Washington, last week met with Senator Robert Casey (D-Pa.), the Chairman of Senate’s Foreign Relations Sub Committee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs when Sri Lanka’s efforts mend fences among communities and conditions in the IDP camps were discussed.

Wickremasuriya explained President Mahinda Rajapakse’s plan for re-developing the Northern Province following the defeat of the LTTE last May and also briefed the Senator on progress made in the IDP Centers. He said that the government planned to ensure that most of the internally displaced were back in their homes within 180 days.

Casey was pleased to hear that 10,000 IDPs have already been re-settled in Jaffna and Mannar and 10,000 senior citizen from among them have moved to the homes of relatives or facilities for elders. The ambassador said that such settlements continue on a daily basis.

He explained that it was necessary to ensure that the displaced returning to their homes were assured of a landmine-free environment as the LTTE had planted a large number of mines and concealed weapons in the Vanni Districts.

Casey pledged US support for de-mining efforts in the North and noted that the re-settlement of IDPs were essential.

Wickremasuriya who briefed Casey on the August 8 provincial and local elections said that this was the first step towards a political solution.