Sri Lankan war-refugees in India struggle to return home

Resettling the displaced

Aid workers emphasise that the return of refugees will be dependent on the situation on the ground and how effectively Sri Lankan authorities resettle nearly 300,000 internally displaced people in areas which had been under LTTE control for decades.

The government has so far resettled more than half of those who were uprooted from their homes during the war, but tens of thousands still remain in displacement camps.

Aid workers say many areas still remain heavily mined and scattered with unexploded ordnances. Those returning are also finding their homes, schools and health facilities in ruins with little power, telecommunications or clean water supply.

Most families also need support to help them rebuild their livelihoods - farming communities need functioning irrigation systems, livestock, seeds, fertilizers and tools while fishing communities will need boats and equipment which were destroyed during the conflict.

Markets and banking structures also need to be improved or re-established after decades of neglect.

But most importantly, there has to be a sense of security for those returning, aid workers say.

"The refugees are closely watching what is happening with those internally displaced people and if they feel secure and have been rehabilitated well with freedom of movement and their rights protected, many will return," said Christian Aid's Shannon.