Foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka visited welfare centers housing internally displaced people in Vavuniya, yesterday to ascertain the conditions at these camps and the measures taken by the government to assist the displaced people.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and Resettlement Minister Rishard Bathiudeen accompanied High Commissioners and Ambassador of France, Russia, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Maldives. The Director General of the United Nations also visited Vavuniya along with the diplomats.

According to the official, the diplomats held discussions with the Vavuniya GA, senior commanders of the security forces and several of the local authorities who were assisting the IDP’s at the camps. The diplomats also visited the injured at Vavuniya Hospital.

The diplomats also spoke to those living in the IDP camps when they visited Manic Farm and two other transit points.
According to Daily Mirror the Russian Ambassador, Vladimir P. Mikhailov, commended the government’s concern for the welfare of the civilians and its providing them with all necessary facilities.

He further noted that the IDP camps were developing and medical treatment was being provided to the injured. “Russia has always supported Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism and, after visiting these camps, we will continue to support them even after the war is over, through economic development and investment in the war areas,” he said.

French Ambassador Mr. Michel Lummaux told Daily Mirror that the international community’s main concern regarding Sri Lanka at present was the plight of the civilians and that, after his visit to Vavuniya, he was convinced that the civilians were well looked after: “They are well fed, well educated and well looked after. The children are receiving a good education and they lead a life free of danger in these camps until they are resettled in their villages. We visited Manic Farm and two other transit points and I must say that the situation in Manic Farm was better than that in the two other transit camps. Overall we were satisfied,” he said.