Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Risath Bathiyutheen yesterday said that the government had resettled almost half of the Internally Displaced Persons so far in their native places in the Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Tincomalee districts. He said that there were only 150,000 IDPs accommodated in the welfare camps in the Vanni out of 280,000 immediately after the end of war.

Addressing a press conference at the Parliamentary Complex, Minister Bathiyutheen said that as the number of persons held at IDP facilities dwindled gradually, restrictions currently imposed on them could be removed. He said that recently resettled IDPs could visit IDP facilities to meet those who remained at welfare centres.

"The government’s 180-day programme launched under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ project will end by January 31. The government expects to resettle all IDPs before that date. The only barrier to resettle the people is landmines. That is why the government has accelerated the de-mining programme," Bathiyutheen said.

Minister of Nation Building S. M. Chandrasena said that the government is using 19 machines for de-mining in the North. There are another five machines to be received within the next few days. There were 1,000 army personnel engaged in the de-mining process along with those machines.

"Another batch of 1,000 was under training and they would join the de-mining teams in batches of 200 each month. However, one person could de-mine an area of 10 square meters.

One machine could de-mine 8,000 square meters per day. That is why the government is importing more machines for the purpose. Up to now the government has spent nearly Rs. 1,000 million to import demining machines," Minister Chandrasena said.

He said that the IDPs came to the welfare camps like walking skeletons. They were depressed by the LTTE administration. But, today they are going back to their homes as healthy people after the government provided health and other facilities to them.