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De-mining in the north stepped up. |
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 18:10 |
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De-mining activities in the north have been further stepped up. According 10 more de-mining equipment will be bought to the country next week. The government currently possesses 14 such machines. Minister Rishard Badeudeen says the number of soldiers engaged in de-mining activities will be doubled. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo today, the minister said the current figure of 1,000 soldiers will be increased to 2,000 in the coming months. The Minister said de-mining has been complete so far 118 Grama Niladari Divisions in the North. He said since it is apparent that NGOs are sluggish in the de-mining process it has been decided to transfer a larger role to the Army.
Meanwhile, Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri says all resettlement activities in the Jaffna district will end in the coming days. Already 33 thousand persons formerly living in welfare villages in Vavuniya have been resettled in their original villages in Jaffna. Today 611 families were resettled in Jaffna. Every family resettled in this manner received an allowance of five thousand rupees. In addition they will receive a savings account of 20 thousand rupees. Each family has been provided dry rations sufficient for six months and will also receive seeds and fertilizer required for cultivation. The government says so far over 100 thousand IDPs from welfare villages in Vavuniya have already been resettled. |
