Welfare Villages:

Human Rights envoy rebuts negative reports

French Ambassador for Human Rights Francois Zimeray, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs met Resettlement and Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to discuss progress on resettlement and the conditions regarding the IDPs in the welfare villages in Vavuniya.

The Human Rights Ambassador commenting on the observations following his visit to the Welfare villages congratulated the Minister and the Ministry for the progress and conditions in the IDP welfare villages.

He said during his visit to the welfare villages he had searched for reasons for why the conditions of the welfare camps had been subject to criticism, he said he could find none.

He also enquired into facilities given to the IDPs once they were resettled. The Minister informed the Human Rights Ambassador of the entitlements given to the IDPs as well as progress in infrastructure and other government services available in the return areas, the cash grant and non-food items given to each IDP, basic food items for 6 months and commitments for building permanent housing for IDPs.

The Minister said there was a lack of disruption of education, health facilities, vocational training opportunities and other services due to their availability at the welfare villages prior to resettlement, accentuating the President's commitment to the IDPs and the Special Presidential Task Force set up by the President on Resettlement, Development and Security to ensure effective co-ordination and implementation of the IDP assistance program concurrently with the development projects in the conflict affected areas.