All welfare centres will be named as freedom villages with effect from 1st of December 2009, announced Senior Presidential Advisor and Chief of the President's Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Basil Rajapaksa, MP, who visited Vavuniya welfare centres this morning (21).
Thus all Internally Displaced People (IDP) will have total freedom of movement from 1st of December.
This official announcement was made amidst applauds from the IDPs.
The decision was taken as part of government moves to improve the rights and privileges of Internally Displaced People housed at welfare villages in the North.
Secondly, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa announced that under the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, all IDPs will be resettled by 31 January 2010.
Thirdly, the current Rs. 25,000 provided to IDPs will be doubled to Rs. 50,000 with effect from 15 December 2009.
In addition, the government will provide the IDPs with dry rations sufficient for 6 months, roofing sheets, kitchen utensils, agricultural equipments and other essential items to facilitate a smooth transition during resettlement.
