Off the wire
• News Analysis: China sees bright future for economic cooperation with South and Southeast Asia  • Backgrounder: Basic facts about China-Cambodia Ties  • Vietnam's auto sales up 31 pct in 9 months  • Bill to cap government expenses criticized in Brazilian Senate  • Mainland opposes foreign intervention in Taiwan's participation in Interpol activities  • 1st LD-Writethru: China's major stock index retreats after U.S., European market losses  • Dutch royals to visit Brisbane, Australia in November  • Roundup: Proposal to increase pension age faces outcry in Vietnam  • Sri Lankan PM to visit Brussels to hold talks on regaining key EU Trade concessions  • Tokyo stocks close lower on US shares' retreat, oil prices' slump  
You are here: 　 Home

Sri Lanka says 30 refugees to return from India next week

Xinhua, October 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Sri Lankan government said Wednesday that 30 Sri Lankan refugees in south India will return to the country next week.

The Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs said the refugees will return as part of a voluntary repatriation programme assisted by the UN refugees agency, UNHCR.

V.Sivagnanasothy, Secretary of the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs said that of the 30 refugee returnees 13 are males and 17 are females.

The UNHCR provides free air tickets, reintegration allowance of 75 U.S. dollars per person, transport allowance 19 U.S. dollars per person and monitory non-food grant of 75 U.S. dollars per family.

Since 2011, the Ministry says 5,110 refugees (1,863 Families) have returned to Sri Lanka. Over 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees are currently in India.

Minister Swaminathan initiated a Cabinet paper on which livelihood assistance of maximum to refugee returnees is provided to support the livelihood activities.

Further, the provision of dry ration has already been approved for six months. The ministry has instructed officials to provide compensation for those who have lost their houses and suffered loss of family members and for injuries.

Sivagnanasothy said that the refugees who lost their houses will be provided with houses under the housing programme of the ministry.

The Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena has initiated action to encourage the voluntary refugee returnee programme on a phased out basis and the Government says the current trend of increased refugee returnees is a sign of reconciliation and moving towards permanent peace. Endit