UNSG's representative says displacement might last for 5-15 years

Delivering the main speech, Prof. Walter Kalin, the Representative of UN Secretary General on human rights of IDPs said the conference is "timely, regardless of the present situation in Sri Lanka".

“Internal displacement shatters lives, and it takes long time to rebuild these lives,” he told addressing over 100 foreign and local delegates taking part in the summit.

We will have to get Defence Ministry involved. It might de difficult to implement some proposals due to current situation however best they are Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe

Prof. Kalin added: “General displacement means too often communities break apart. And the distress of the displacement and disperse; Something that often result in marginalisation”.

The right of the IDPs to resettle in their original lands was introduced to the summit by the UN envoy.

Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, who presides the conference, told BBC Sandeshaya that the event provides an ideal forum for interested parties to voice their concerns.

Security situation

Although the ministry is committed to implement the proposals of the summit, he said, the current security situation will have to be taken into consideration.

	Minister Samarasinghe presides the 3-day conference

“We will have to get Defence Ministry involved. It might de difficult to implement some proposals due to the current situation however best they are,” the minister told Elmo Fernando.

Many participants agreed that the conference offered a good opportunity to raise their concerns.

However, Executive Director of National Peace Council (NPC) Jehan Perera told BBC Sandeshaya that the ground reality was not discussed during the first day deliberations.

“The current situation in Kilinochchi; the fact that civilians are killed and displaced was not discussed. I think the summit will be a useful one if the current situation is also taken into consideration,” he said.