Sri Lankan refugees return from south India

Colombo, May 9 :  A group of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees returned from south India on Tuesday, the government said.

Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister D.M. Swaminathan said 16 refugees returned and were greeted by officials at the main international airport outside Colombo, reports Xinhua news agency.

The spokesperson said that over the past two weeks, 56 Sri Lankan refugees had returned to the country from India.

The refugees were among thousands who had fled Sri Lanka during a 30-year conflict between Tamil Tiger guerrillas and the military.

The official said arrangements were being made to resettle all the refugees who return to the country.

India and Sri Lanka are divided by a narrow strip of sea.