Consequent on the improvement of the security situation with regarding the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Vanni, and the willingness of the Government to work together with the United Nations in all practical approaches to the best treatment of IDPs, the Government has taken several measures to enhance facilities for IDPs coming in large numbers to Government held areas.

These measures include many measures recommended by Sir John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator in his letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following his recent visit to Sri Lanka on the invitation of the President, and his visit to IDP camps in Vavuniya for first hand observation of conditions there.

Among the immediate measures to be introduced is that personnel from the ICRC and the UNHCR will be present at the Omanthai point where screening of new IDP arrivals take place to observe the process and will be allowed the opportunity to talk freely to the new IDPs. The screening process will be carried out by the Security Forces.

In the Media Briefing by Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Thursday (26) it was said that the Government had agreed to a recommendation by Sir John Holmes that management of IDP camps come under the control of civilian authorities, and for this purpose the management of the camps will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Resettlement and Relief Services. The presence of security forces personnel in the camps will continue for security purposes. The Minister said the Security Forces had done an admirable job of cooking, feeding and providing many facilities from the time the camps were set up.

It has also been agreed to allow personnel of UN organizations and concerned INGOs to have access to the IDP facilities. Requests had also been made by a large number of local NGOs who were ken on assisting in the IDP facilities and they would also be welcome.

With regard to the freedom of movement of the aged, arrangements have already been made to accommodate persons who are over 60 years of age, who have no relatives, to be housed in a Hindu kovil and a Christian church. Senior citizens who say they can live with relatives will be allowed to do so after their relationships with the relevant parties are properly ascertained, the Minister said.

Minister Samarasinghe added that the process of registering the IDPs was now in progress, as well as the issue of ID cards to them. Once this is completed there would be much greater freedom of movement allowed to them. The entire issue of free movement was difficult due to the prevailing security situation, he added.

In keeping with another recommendation by Sir John Holmes, the de-mining process was being accelerated with the help of countries such as India, USA Japan and Norway and international organizations. At a recent meeting that discussed resettlement of IDP, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa MP and Senior Advisor to the President had assured that 800 plus IDPs in two centres in Mannar District will be resettled by end April 30. The re-settlement of others will depend on the speed of de-mining and the setting up of proper facilities for the people. However, every possible action is being taking to resettle all present IDPs before end 2009.

Minister Samarasinghe and the Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona said the actions of the government showed its commitment to engage with the United Nations in relief work for the IDPs. The government was willing to work together with the UN, although it did not accept everything it recommended.

With regard to briefings to foreign governments and organizations with a genuine interest in the situation in Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Kohona said that the Sri Lanka missions abroad would continue to give briefings as an when necessary. However, the preferred location for such briefings would be Colombo, where all the relevant state and other institutions could be represented, and there was adequate information to be given.

Arrangements were also being made to take more journalists to the affected areas in the North, now that the security situation has improved for such visits, and it was hoped that they would help in countering the pro-LTTE propaganda being repeated by certain institutions and individuals, without proper verification.