Most of the construction work of the surface drainage system has been completed at the welfare centres to face the monsoon rains and avoid inconvenience to the IDPs. The construction of the drainage system is fully completed in Zone 2 while in Zone 1 and 5, 95% and 90% is completed respectively. The drainage programme will be completed in the rest of the welfare centres within a week, said Humans Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing at the media briefing held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

"This will prevent water overflowing to their tents and causing a flood-like situation," the Minister said.

He further noted that, around 10,593 IDPs were resettled in their original places, while, a total number of 12,075 IDPs were released from welfare centres. The IDPs were released on the basis of various considerations such as medical needs, humanitarian considerations, people over 60 year old, court orders, foreign visa holders, university students, pregnant mothers, religious leaders, foster families etc.

"The Government is also in the process of rehabilitating 9,818 former LTTE combatants who surrendered to the Security Forces and others were who arrested. They will be rehabilitated with the assistance of several international organizations," he added. He asserted that it is important to focus on the IDP's hardships at this juncture, particularly on facing the North- East monsoon rain in the coming months.