There is an increase in the number Sri Lankan refugees returning home from camps in Tamil Nadu, latest statistics with the United Nations (UN) has shown.

This is being seen as the result of the war having ended 17 months ago and no violent incident being reported since then, the Hindustan Times reported.

Earlier this week, a group of 67 people who had escaped from north-eastern Sri Lanka as fighting escalated between Tamil separatists and government troops returned home with the help of the UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR).

“This group ... arrived two days ago. They had approached the UNHCR India for help. We received them at the airport and gave them a small travel grant,” an UNHCR official said.

According to Indian government statistics, till July 2010, there were 71,654 Lankan refugees in India living in 112 camps and 32,467 living outside, the report added.