Over 71,000 Displaced Sri Lankans Return Home

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 28, 2002

Over 71,000 Displaced Sri Lankans Return Home

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Over 71,000 internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka due to the ethnic conflict have returned home following a ceasefire declared by the government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels last December, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The UNHCR said Monday more families are expected to return to their homes in the north and east of the country within the next six months.

The majority of displaced persons were from Jaffna,Kilinochchi,Mulaitivu, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mannar.

The UNHCR believes it is still inopportune for all displaced persons to return to their homes as it might have an impact on theproposed peace efforts between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The government will not only have to ensure the safety of the resettlers but also attend to their health,sanitation and financial situation.

The UNHCR said that the Rehabilitation Ministry had not made any effort to meet the people even half way by initiating aid to them. It should give at least 15,000 rupees (about 156 U.S. dollars) to returnees and help reconstruct their damaged houses.

The government and Tamil rebels are expected to hold talks in Thailand in June in a bid to end the nearly two-decade bloody ethnic conflict in the country.

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