US hails return of Lankan Tamils to their homes

“We are encouraged by the Government’s announcement that it intends in the next few weeks to facilitate the voluntary return of over 40,000 of the approximately 2,50,000 IDPs in the camps,and we understand that thousands have already been released,” it said,adding the US will continue to closely monitor the situation.

The United States firmly believes that the rapid release and voluntary return of all IDPs is a critical element of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka,it said.

Around USD 6.6 million has been provided to international demining organisations for humanitarian assistance as the US’ support to the voluntary return process,it added.

Similarly,some USD 4 million has been provided to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist the refugees returning home besides contributions to the World Food Programme for providing six-months dry rations.

“We will look for additional ways to support the Government of Sri Lanka in this critical effort,” the US Embassy statement said.

During the last two years,the US has contributed over USD 87 million in humanitarian assistance,including funding that has provided over seven million meals for Sri Lankans living in IDP camps,it said.

Reacting to the US State Department report,the Foreign Ministry here,earlier,said that the allegations in the “Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka,” against the Colombo government “appeared to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence”.

On Monday,Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had decided to appoint an independent committee to comprehensively examine and provide recommendations for his consideration with regard to the US State Department’s report.

Sri Lanka should take steps to “throughly investigate” what are “credible” claims of brutalities committed by its army and the rebels,State Department spokesman Ian Kelly had then said,while talking about the alleged human rights violations.