Sri Lankan Tamil leader appeals for housing for refugee-returnees
The Hindu
India should arrange for transport by sea: K. Vigneswaran
An appeal has been made to the Government of India to design a housing project in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces for refugees who return from Tamil Nadu and for internally displaced persons.
In a statement, K. Vigneswaran, who is heading Akhila Ilankai Tamil Mahasabha, a political body, and based out of Trincomalee in the Eastern Province, suggested that such a project be implemented over five years. Calling upon India to arrange for the transport of refugees by sea to the Trincomalee port, he said Sri Lanka’s Resettlement Authority should be tasked with the transport of the returnees within the country and provision of temporary accommodation. The Resettlement Authority also should carry out the rehabilitation of the Kankesanthurai port and the Talaimannar pier.
Mr. Vigneswaran, who served as the Secretary to the once-unified North-eastern Province’s Chief Minister, Varadaraja Perumal, during 1988-90, wanted the Indian government to bring in investors for rehabilitation and development projects of the Resettlement Authority in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. As a priority, the investors would provide job opportunities to the refugee-returnees, depending on their skills, given that there was a large number of graduates, including engineering graduates, among them.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.