Batticaloa resettlement drive phase II today

Rasika Somarathna

BATTICALOA: The second phase of the Government's resettlement drive in the Batticaloa district will commence today with the resettlement of 6,700 families consisting of around 25,000 people in 24 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Kokkadicholai.

Co-ordinating officer of the Army's 233 Brigade Major Berty Perera told the Daily News that the first stage expedited since May 14 was an overwhelming success with nearly 30,000 IDPs being resettled in 34 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Vellawely area.

According to Major Perera, at the commencement of the first stage, the number of IDPs to be resettled was around 29,000 but as the drive gathered momentum, a number of other families were registered with the authorities with nearly 1,000 more being added to the figure.

The second stage is being planned to be expedited from June 1-6 with infrastructure and other facilities being upgraded to meet the required standards. The Government recently opened a Police station and other Government departments in the area to assist civilians.

According to Major Perera, the third stage of the resettlement programme will commence on June 15 with 7,800 families consisting of 38,000 people to be resettled in 24 Grama Niladhari divisions in the Vavunathivu area.

The Presidential Secretariat, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry and the civil administration in the area along with Security Forces are handling the resettlement drive.