Sept 20, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to shut down the Resettlement Ministry after the completion of the resettlement process of Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) by the end of the year.

Deputy Resettlement Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan confirmed to ColomboPage that the resettlement process would be completed by the end of the year and there would not be a necessity to continue with the Resettlement Ministry.

He said once the resettlement of IDPs is completed, the respective line ministries could ensure that they are provided with the required facilities.

"There are only about 7,000 IDPs to be resettled and that would be completed in a month or two," he observed.

He added that the President has already said that there would not be necessity for a Resettlement Ministry once the resettlement process was completed.

When asked what portfolio would be assigned to him afterwards, Muralitharan said the decision to assign him another portfolio was President's prerogative.