Urgent Call for Unified Strategy on Refugee Return & Disaster Recovery 📈

• Humanitarian Context: Minister Bimal Rathnayake has called for the return of nearly 90,000 Sri Lankan refugees currently in India, many residing there for over 30 years. The National Peace Council (NPC) emphasizes that this requires a safe, well-prepared environment rather than a routine administrative process. • Recovery Gaps: Four months after Cyclone Ditwah, over 153,000 people remain displaced. A significant portion includes Malaiyaha Tamil families in the plantation sector, where relief lags due to a lack of clear policy on land allocation and housing. • Proposed Solutions: • High-Level Authority: The NPC recommends a state authority—modeled after the 1979 Mahaweli Authority—to bypass ministerial bottlenecks and manage land, housing, and infrastructure repair. • Structured Partnerships: Formalizing ties with NGOs like Sarvodaya and OfERR is deemed critical to fast-track livelihoods, transitional shelter, and psychosocial services. • Policy Urgency: Immediate focus is needed on permanent housing with secure land tenure and accessible grievance mechanisms in local languages to ensure accountability. • Economic Implications: Successful reintegration and disaster recovery are vital for local labor stability and regional development, particularly in the plantation and northern sectors, which are essential for long-term national reconciliation and stability.