IDPs in Puttalam were offered sugar for three months instead of rice

Minister in charge of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Risath Badiuddeen, told BBC Sandeshaya that sugar was offered to some Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Puttalam.

“We immediately banned this practise as soon as we received information,” he added.

Rs. 1400 million per year

Some co-operative shops carried out this practise for over three months, the minister admitted.

The government in consultation with the president is to decide whether to offer money to the IDPs, in case if there is a rice shortage, or take other measures.

We immediately banned this practise as soon as we received information Minister Risath Badiuddeeen

The new measures will be decided within two weeks, minister Badiuddeen told BBCSinhala.com.

According to the minister, the government currently spends Rs. 1400 million per year to provide facilities to IDPs.

Nearly Rs. 2000 million was spent last year, but as a result of resettlement the government currently needs considerably less money for the IDPs.

Minister added that approximately Rs. 1260 a month is offered by the government for a five-member IDP family.