910/’16
Hon. Sunil Handunnetti,— To ask the Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs,—
(a) Will he inform this House—
(i) the date on which the Poonthottam camp in Vavuniya in which war displaced persons are housed was opened;
(ii) whether that camp is still being maintained;
(iii) if so, the number of persons residing in that camp at present;
(iv) whether toilet, water and electricity facilities have been provided to it;
(v) whether a proposal for the settlement of these displaced persons permanently in another location has been put forward;
(vi) if so, what it is; and
(vii) since these people are living in that area preserving Sinhala-Tamil harmony while becoming familiar with the lifestyle of Vavuniya for many years, the reason for the inability to construct a housing complex and settle them in the same location ?
(b) If not, why?
Asked Date
2016-11-19
Asked by
Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, M.P.
Ministry
Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Northern Development & Hindu Religious Affairs
Legislature
Eighth Parliament of the D.S.R. of Sri Lanka
Session
First Session
(a) (i) People who were displaced due to conflict occurrences during the period after the year 1995 arrived in the Vavuniya District from the Jaffna Peninsula and the Vanni. This camp was established within that period.
(ii) No.
As per the instructions of the Special Task Force for Resettlement in the Northern Province, all administration structures were withdrawn after the year 2011 and provision of dry rations to those people was also discontinued. Therefore, no welfare camp is maintained by the Government.
(iii) When this welfare centre was established, 1,249 families consisting of 4,495 persons resided in that camp and it was fully maintained through Government expenditure. This welfare camp was maintained under the District Secretary of Vavuniya. The number of people in that camp was largely reduced by combining them with various resettlement projects with their consent. After the conclusion of the war in 2009, a large number of people turned back to their own districts through the resettlement activities. However, at present, 97 families consisting of 354 persons who did not give their consent to include themselves in any resettlement scheme are living within the area where that camp was established.
(iv) The wells constructed by the people who lived in the lands before establishing the welfare centre and the lavatories and wells constructed within the period the welfare centre was in operation are used and maintained by those people.
(v) Yes.
(vi) The Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs has taken action to resettle these people by launching a housing scheme with infrastructure facilities in Sinnadamban Village with an extent of 70 acres and in Parasankulam Village with an extent of 30 acres in the Divisional Secretary's Division of Vavuniya North.
(vii) A lot of displaced people who were affected by the conflict did not want to continue living in welfare centres because of their personal benefits. Except for 97 families out of the 1,249 families, the others have settled down in their places of origin or in the alternative lands given by the Government and returned to their normal life. The remaining families which did not give their consent to include themselves in any resettlement programme should be brought under a resettlement programme and provided with a land with a house in order to run their life. The welfare camp where they are presently living is 21 acres in extent. Out of that, fifteen and-a-half acres are private land and the balance is State land. In the State land, there are allocated plots for constructing government departments under the Urban Development Plan. Further, the College of Education is also there close to the welfare centre. Therefore, it is not possible to construct houses and do the resettlement of these people in the same place. Hence, houses are being constructed by the Gnanam Foundation as a grant to these people at Sinnadamban and Parasankulam with the approval of the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs. Under this resettlement programme, an extent of half an acre which can be used for agricultural purposes and also a house will be provided for one family.
Total number of houses
- Sinnadamban 66
- Parasankulam 31
97
Further, the following infrastructure facilities are provided by the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs.
Supply of purified drinking water - Rs. 7.84 million
Electricity (Solar-powered street lamps) - Rs. 5.1 million
Streets - Rs. 3.5 million
In addition, the Gnanam Foundation has given assurance to provide livelihood assistance to these people.
(b) Does not arise.
Answered Date
2017-02-07
Answered by
Hon. D. M. Swaminathan, M.P.
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