Refugees return by ferry

Thursday, 13 October 2011 00:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa participated in the ceremony to welcome the first group of Sri Lankan refugees returned to Sri Lanka by ferry from India yesterday (12) at the Colombo Port.

The refugees’ returns are part of a voluntary, facilitated repatriation programme, supported by the Governments of both India and Sri Lanka.

This occasion has been coordinated by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ministry of Resettlement. Refugees return by sea is significant because until now all refugee returns to Sri Lanka were by air.

During the course of Sri Lanka’s conflict, many refugees arrived in India and European countries but since the end of the conflict, an increasing number of Sri Lankan refugees are returning home, both spontaneously and with the help of UNHCR.

Over 1,400 refugees have returned so far this year.

UNHCR provides funding for immediate deposit of UNHCR reintegration grant Rs. 10,000 per adult and Rs. 7,500 per minor under 18 years. Each individual is provided with Rs. 2,000 in cash which can be used immediately to arrange transportation to their village of origin

Each NFI pack contains basic household items such as mosquito nets, jerry cans, a kitchen sets, towels, plastic mats etc. Refugee returnees are also provided by a hygiene pack, a tarpaulin kit and a return took kits, which contains essential items such as a crowbar, an axe, a hurricane lamp, etc.

Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, Representative of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Sri Lanka Michael Zwack and UNHCR Deputy Representative in Sri Lanka Jennifer Pagonis also participated at this occasion.