Schools are no longer used as IDP centres. IDP villages of Sumathipuram, Maradamadu and Zone 6B have now closed while Pulmudai welfare village will close tomorrow and Dharmapuram will be closed in another 4 to 5 days.

Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe stated this at a press conference today (23 Dec) stressing that the government is taking action to close IDP camps with the reduction of the numbers of IDPs.

There are only 108, 573 IDPs left to be resettled as of today. Up to date, a total of 127, 352 IDPs have already been resettled while a total of 140,169 IDPs have taken advantage of the freedom of movement granted by the government from 01 Dec.

Out of the 140,169 IDPs who left IDP centres, over 70 % have returned to their camps on the due date. The returns indicate that the government is providing for their needs or else they would not have returned, the Minister stressed.

Minister Samarasinghe also stated that the government has achieved a great deal at a very short time period and will continue to work hard to resettle all IDPs.