COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office

SRI LANKA 7 MARCH 2012
The Senior Kilinochchi Sri Lankan Army official told us that nearly all of the IDPs originating
from Kilinochchi district had returned, although many were with host families. Temporary
shelters were being provided as the LTTE had removed all of the roofs and windows from
properties when they withdrew from the area. The Sri Lankan Army was assisting with the
construction of homes but there was a shortage of tin sheeting for roofs, which were being
provided by the Indian government.
The Senior Government Official for Kilinochchi told us that between 10,000 and 12,000 IDPs
had been returned to the district from Menik Farm IDP camp. This brought the total number of
persons returning to the district to 82,000 and meant that 2 out of the 4 regions were now
completely resettled. Many of these had returned voluntarily having waited for the schools to
open for their children. She stated that nearly all of the houses in Kilinochchi did not have roofs,
explaining that during the conflict, the LTTE instructed the population to take their roofing and
wood with them for shelters when they withdrew from the advancing Sri Lankan Army. UNHCR
were providing tarpaulins and sheeting and some houses were being constructed of mud.
The government had provided cash grants of Rs 5,000 whilst they were in transit and a further
Rs 20,000 through UNHCR once they had returned. The World Bank was also giving Rs 20,000
to those who repaired and rebuilt their own properties. The Senior Government Official for
Kilinochchi said that the government wanted to encourage people to start working again. Most
wanted tools for farming and relied on an agriculture based income. NGOs working with the
Presidential Taskforce had helped farmers cultivate 1,000 acres of paddy fields, with the
government providing the seed. Some rice had already been harvested as a result of this. They
were also encouraged to grow vegetable crops. We were told that 10% of families had female
heads of the household. She said that she had seen women working in construction work,
mixing cement, something that would never have been seen previously. In some cases the
children had to look after their families. In general she thought that most people were not
concerned with seeking a political solution as they had much more important things to do like
getting their lives back. She added that the people of Kilinochchi just wanted the basic needs,
and a children‘s playground which they had requested.
The High Commission team accompanied UNOPS to Poonaryn in the north-west of Kilinochchi
District. IDPs began returning to Pooneryn in December 2009. We visited a project where the
local men are employed to construct shelters. As it appeared all of the houses in Pooneryn did
not have roofs, almost every plot of land was having a shelter constructed. We spoke to a group
of villagers who said they were concerned about the coming months. Whilst they were being
employed by UNOPS to build the shelters they had an income, but they were due to finish at the
end of this month. They were all farmers and pointed out that the rains did not arrive until
October, and the harvest would not come in until next January. They said they needed
sustainable jobs.
A Senior Government Official for Mullaitivu told us that out of the five administrative divisions
under her control, two had almost completed their resettlement programme, two were ongoing
and one had yet to commence. She produced detailed up to date statistics showing that 42,248
persons had been resettled in Mullaitivu District. Those persons awaiting resettlement
numbered 69,808.The division of Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) was where demining had not yet
commenced. She said that she was working with the Sri Lankan Army, the demining NGOs and
UNHCR on the resettlement programme. We were told that all IDPs returning to the district had
to register at her office in Mullaitivu.
298 The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 3 February 2012.
Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section
to 2 March 2012.