23 Oct 2009

More refugees to be allowed to leave camp

6:00 am on 23 October 2009

Officials in Sri Lanka say more than 40,000 Tamil refugees will be released imminently from the main camp for war displaced people.

The release would be the largest single batch of people freed from Manik Farm camp since a lengthy civil war ended in May.

Some of those due to be freed are from areas previously controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebels in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

The BBC reports it is the first time people from those areas are being allowed to leave.

About 15,000 refugees have been freed up to now - from areas that were not controlled by rebels.