No charges for refugees

6 January 2012 01:46 pm

The cabinet has decided not to levy any charges from Sri Lankan refugees returning from Tamil Nadu when they are issued with the necessary travel documents.

It is believed that around 90,000 Sri Lankans are still living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. The travel documents for Sri Lankan refugees to return home are issued by the Deputy Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Chennai.

If this facility was not extended to these refugees they would have had to pay Rs.4,400 for their return journey travel documents.

Meanwhile, the Indian government, on a proposal made by President Rajapaksa, has agreed to extend a soft credit line of US$382.37 million (approximately Rs.40 billion) to reconstruct the northern railway line from Pallai to KKS including a communication and colour light system along the stretch. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)