The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resettled at present is 120,000 from the total number of 280,000, said Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama at a press briefing today (5) after he met with foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka.

Therefore the total number of IDPs remaining in the welfare centers at present is 158,000.

The resettlement of IDPs and initiation of their livelihoods is a priority of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Minister said.

He further stated that the Government is making rapid progress in the resettlement process of the IDPs under the ‘Northern Spring’ programme, although the major obstacle is land mines.

The Minister stated that at present there are about 1.5 million unexploded landmines within 402 sq.km in the North. The government has received more de-mining machines from the Government of Croatia and Slovakia to accelerate the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the North. These machines are able to de-mine 5000 sq.km per day, he said.

The Foreign Minister requested the international community to assist the Government of Sri Lanka in its resettlement process, as well as in providing infrastructure facilitates to those who are being resettled.

He pointed out that the IDPs are provided with necessary items and facilities such as dry rations, family kits, as well as 2 acres of paddy lands, while they are being resettled.