This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8320392.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tamils to leave Sri Lankan camp Thousands leave Sri Lankan camp
(20 minutes later)
More than 40,000 Tamil refugees will be released imminently by the Sri Lankan government from the main camp for war displaced people, officials say. Nearly 6,000 Tamil refugees have been released from Sri Lanka's main camp for war displaced people, officials say.
This would be the largest single batch of people to leave Menik Farm since the Tamil Tigers were defeated in May. About 15,000 have so far been freed. The 5,700 refugees who left Menik Farm on Thursday are among almost 40,000 people due to be resettled over the next few weeks, the government says.
Some 250,000 civilians are housed in military-run camps in Sri Lanka. This would be the largest single batch freed since the Tamil Tigers were defeated in May. Some 250,000 civilians are housed in military-run camps.
The authorities have been criticised for the slow pace of resettlement and for conditions in the camps. The authorities have been criticised for the slow pace of resettlement.
Some of those due to be freed from Menik Farm are from areas previously controlled by the rebels in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. Pressure
It is the first time that people from those areas are to be released. Rehabilitation Minister Rishat Badurdheen told the BBC that another 36,000 refugees would be resettled "over the coming weeks".
All those freed up to now were Tamils from areas that were not controlled by the rebels in the closing stages of the war. Those who left Menik Farm on Thursday include Tamils from areas previously controlled by the rebels.
Weeding out It is the first time people have been allowed to return home to areas the Tigers used to hold.
The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan says that the government's announcement comes at a time when it is under increasing international pressure to resettle the nearly 250,000 people displaced in the final stages of the conflict. About 15,000 refugees have been freed up to now - but all of from areas that were not controlled by the rebels.
The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan says the government's announcement comes at a time when it is under increasing international pressure to resettle the tens of thousands of people displaced in the final stages of the conflict.
Sri Lanka's government earlier said it intended to release 80% of the refugees held in camps by the end of the year.Sri Lanka's government earlier said it intended to release 80% of the refugees held in camps by the end of the year.
Rehabilitation Minister Rishat Badurdheen told the BBC that about 12,000 people were being released on Thursday, with the remainder of the 40,000 to be freed as soon as possible.
The government has previously defended itself from human rights groups, many of whom have criticised the slow pace of the releases.The government has previously defended itself from human rights groups, many of whom have criticised the slow pace of the releases.
It argues that it needs to weed out rebels from the camps and ensure that areas in the north are de-mined before refugees return home.It argues that it needs to weed out rebels from the camps and ensure that areas in the north are de-mined before refugees return home.
Aid agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over conditions in Menik Farm - near the town of Vavuniya - and have warned that flooding and poor sanitation will become worse when monsoon rains, which are due at any time, eventually arrive. Aid agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over conditions in Manik Farm - near the town of Vavuniya - and have warned that flooding and poor sanitation will become worse when monsoon rains, which are due at any time, eventually arrive.