“All the basic facilities are given”

Deputy Minister of Resettlement
Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan

(October 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The government has almost finished the resettlement drive. We are successful in this case whatever anyone might say. Only 24,000 persons are left in Menik Farm today. We will send them out very soon.

All the basic facilities are given to the returnees. We assist them in restarting their farming activities.

In certain areas, farmers were given seed paddy and agricultural implements such as mammoties and knives.

With the assistance of the Red Cross, water pumps were also given to people in villages. Pro-LTTE elements will criticize the government.

But, we move forward amid all odds. The infrastructure is also put in place. The government is investing heavily on development projects. We provide these people with electricity, water, sanitation and other facilities.

There are 57, 000 persons in Puttalam. They were evicted from the North by the LTTE. We will resettle them too in their original places of residence.

In Kuchchaveli, there was a land problem yesterday. We sorted it out with the participation of repesentatives from all the communities.

In some areas, mine clearing operations are still going on. We have to complete the task. Otherwise, it is difficult for us resettle people and put their lives on risk. The international community also appreciates our work. People need actual freedom. President Mahinda Rajapaksa brought freedom to all Sri Lankans by finishing the war.

We have peace now. We can usher in a new era. Tamils have understood it. As a Tamil politician, I am happy about the situation. Certain sections of the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora have teamed up with us now in this respect.

In this Maha season, people can cultivate their paddy lands now. They now have access to the southern market as well. It is a good thing.

Nowhere in the world, has resettlement of people been done in such a quick pace as done by us. In other countries, they have taken years and years for it. Within a year or so, we were able to achieve a lot in this case.