The President has decided to double the resettlement allowance paid to IDPs with effect from December 15, 2009, senior presidential advisor, Basil Rajapaksa, MP, said in Chettikulam, Vavuniya yesterday.

"This means that IDPs will receive 50,000 rupees instead of the earlier 25,000 paid to them after they are resettled in their homesteads in the North", he told journalists.

This resettlement allowance is being paid in addition to other existing financial assistance to acquire fishing and agricultural gear, he noted.

Rajapaksa said the government has also decided to relax restrictions at the Chettikulam welfare camp, which houses 137,000 persons to allow them greater freedom of movement.

He said that in keeping with this decision, people here will be permitted to move about freely as in an open welfare camp.