About 1500 displaced persons from Palali, Myladi and Kankasanthurai have been living in these camps with immense difficulties. The President met these families and listened to their grievances.

The families warmly welcomed the President and briefed the President about the severe hardships they underwent for more than two decades and requested the President to resettle them in their original places of dwelling. The President pledged them to arrange immediate solutions for their problems.

The President also met the families living in Jaffna and suburbs while participating in the Christmas festival held at the Jaffna Municipal Grounds.

The President symbolically distributed dry rations to the people at the occasion and presented awards to the winners of Christmas stamps and poster design contest.

Minister John Amaratunga, State Minister Mrs. Vijayakala Maheshwarn, Parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan, Northern Province Governor H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran and several other politicians were present at these occasions.