More than 70 percent of the Internally Displaced Persons have now left relief centers in North and the government is close to achieving its target of resettling the entire IDP population within 180 days, said Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights.

Accordingly, more than 20,000 IDPs had moved out of the camps within last three days to visit their relatives after registering themselves with the relevant authorities.

Speaking to media at the Presidential Secretariat today the Minister totally refused certain media reports that the IDPs were given freedom of movement only for 15 days.

"Every IDP leaving relief cenrets were given two passes since the government is responsible for their security and wellbeing. Authorities at the centers retain one pass while the other was given to the IDP, "the Minister said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 24 said that he wants every single displaced person to be sent back to their original villages by January 31.

The President has also announced a new package under which each of the resettled people would be provided with Rs. 5,000 in cash, a savings bank account worth Rs. 50,000, 6 months of ration and an emergency kit with roofing and bed sheets.