The 10-member Indian delegation who met the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday afternoon expressed their satisfaction over the measures taken by the government for the welfare of the Internally Displaced persons sheltered in welfare camps in the country's North.
While expressing their concern over the speedy resettlement of the IDPs, the delegation led by DMK MP T. R. Baalu and included MPs from DMK, Congress and VCK appreciated the actions taken by the government so far, in this direction, the government media unit reported.
President Rajapaksa has told the visiting MPs from Tamil Nadu that resettlement of the 250,000 IDPs is a priority for him but emphasized that de-mining must be done first before any resettlement.
With regard to any political solution to the ethnic question, the President has told the delegation that it must be a solution acceptable to all the communities in the country and also to the Sri Lanka's giant neighbor India.
The Indian MPs said they feared the approaching monsoon rains causing hardships to the IDPs and worried about the slow pace of resettlement.
Senior advisor to the President and the head of the 180-day resettlement program, parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa has allayed the fears of the delegation assuring that steps would be taken to decongest the camps within two days.
President Rajapaksa thanked the delegation for visiting to get first hand information about the IDP camps since it is important to dispel misconceptions and false information that are being spread regarding the IDP situation.
Courtesy: colombopage.com