Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans uprooted by the country's long civil war face immense challenges in returning home and rebuilding their lives now the conflict is over, aid agencies say.

In recent months, over 250,000 people have sought refuge in camps in the north of the Indian Ocean island after government forces launched a major offensive to wipe out rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The Sri Lankan military says it has won the final battle and that the entire island is now under government control for the first time since 1983.

But while war is over, authorities and aid agencies - already overwhelmed in trying to meet the needs of uprooted civilians - now face the daunting prospect of planning their return home.

"These people have been displaced numerous times and in reality the camps are yet another displacement, albeit one where they are safe and have their basic needs met," said Suresh Bartlett, World Vision's director in Colombo.

"It is important to get people home as quickly as possible so they can feel a sense of ownership over their own lives, recover their dignity and livelihoods and create an environment where their children feel safe."

LANDMINES AND RUINS

But aid workers say sending people back to their villages in the former conflict zone cannot be done overnight.

The government first has to secure areas to make sure there are no remaining rebels and also begin demining activities to ensure there are no hazards for those being resettled.

Returning civilians, already suffering from battlefield injuries and traumatised by seeing their loved ones killed, will be faced with the ruins of their homes, schools and hospitals as well as infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Basic services such as water, sanitation and power supplies will be non-existent.

In addition, people will need to rebuild their livelihoods from scratch - farmers will need cultivable land, seeds and fertilisers; fishermen will need boats and equipment; teachers, businessmen and others will need some kind of temporary employment.

Until recently the Tigers ran a de-facto state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Aid workers say establishing governance structures in areas which have been under rebel control for years is also a key concern. Departments such as police and security were controlled by the militants and these will now have to be replaced.

The government says it is committed to resettling 80 percent of those displaced by the end of the year, but aid workers warn that this may be a little ambitious.

"The clock is ticking and we need to start moving on this issue," said Douglas Keh, country representative for the United Nations Development Programme, which is involved in resettling people displaced in the east of the island.

Keh said the government had to first form a proper channel of communication with the humanitarian community so that expectations and concerns on early recovery are clear.

"Recovery requires much more planning than the first phase of providing basic relief services and unless authorities play a lead role in directing us through this phase, we aren't going to get very far."

TRUST BUILDING

But relief agencies say one of the most important issues for successful resettlement is building trust between the majority Sinhalese community and the minority Tamils.

Many Tamils coming from LTTE-controlled areas in the north have had little exposure to the Sinhalese community in the south and vice-versa.

Aid workers say the government needs to show it is reaching out to the Tamil community, many of whom have felt marginalised for decades.

This would also prove essential for badly needed funds as it would convince sceptical donors that the government is serious about providing a better life for the island's Tamil population.

"There has to be a genuine reaching out to the Tamil community, not just in words but in terms of empowerment, political votes and equity," Keh said.

"If the government of Sri Lanka is really willing to reach out to the Tamil community, my hope is that donors would start to provide support."

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