Lifeline print supplement #80 (30 August 2009)

These are the main stories of this issue:

• Resettlement of Northern IDPs: Government plans to resettle the northern IDPs before the monsoons.
• Business in Vavuniya develops as security measures relax
• World Vision provides relief service for Vanni IDPs in Vavuniya camps
• Interview with the Justice and Law Reform Deputy Minister, Vadivel Puththirasihamani: “Civil court services will be established soon in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu “
• Radio Drama “Your stories” (Ungal Kathaikal): (“Parithavikkum thaai”) (“Mother in distress”) talks about the psychological problems of a mother who has missed her children during the conflict.

Lifeline Daily Radio Show 160 (31st August 2009)

Demining and livelihoods of IDPs, main concern before people can be resettled, said Mullaitivu GA, Mrs. Imelda Sukumar. Government offices established in Karachi DS division will not function until land release certificates are approved by the GA and the army. In Vavuniya, cultural centers for IDPs will be established at the Kathirgamar relief village and children and adults will be trained in dance, music and various forms of art. Also in Vavuniya, Wheel chairs, walking sticks and counseling for the disabled and children with special needs. Meanwhile, the Chettikulam hospital will be functioning under the central government until resettlement is complete. The government also planes to appoint 35 additional doctors to the hospital in order to increase the service to IDPs.

• Demining and livelihoods of IDPs, main concern before people can be resettled
• Cultural Centers for IDPs at Kathirgamar relief village
• Chettikulam hospital comes under central government until resettlement is completed
• Wheel chairs, walking sticks and counseling for the disabled and children with special needs in Vavuniya

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Lifeline print supplement #79 (23 August 2009)

These are the main stories of this issue:

• Relief goods from the Diaspora to the Vanni IDPs
• Arulagam Orphanage extends a helping hand for the displaced orphan children in Vavuniya
• Mobile service to distribute legal document for the Vanni IDPs
• Interview with USAID Mission Director in Sri Lanka, Ms. Rebecca Cohn: “Myself, my agency and our government look forward to a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka “
• Radio Drama “Your stories” (Ungal Kathaikal):(“Kaalai Kuththum Pookkal”) (“Flowers that explode”) talks about the impacts of landmines.

Lifeline Daily Radio Show 159 (28th August 2009)

The Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry has started to provide psychosocial programs and counselling for IDPs in Vavuniya. In the meantime, Child Care and Women Empowerment Ministry has also decided to organise Children’s Day programmes for the children in seven relief villages.

• Psycho social and counselling programs for IDPs in Vavuniya camps
• October 1, Children’s day: Special programs to be held in Vavuniya to celebrate this day
• RADIO DRAMA: “Thengu Neerinaal theyum theham” talks about the importance of hygiene inside the camps.

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Lifeline Daily Radio Show 159 (27th August 2009)

Speed up the demining process to enable early return of people in Manthai West, Madu, and Vavuniya North, requested Senior Advisor to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for the Development of the North, Basil Rajapakse, to the relevant authorities, at a high level meeting in Vavuniya held yesterday. Resettlement Minister, Rishard Bathudeen, reassured to Lifeline after this meeting, the Government’s commitment to resettle the IDPs very soon: “I hope most of the IDPs will be resettled within 180 days.

In Vavuniya, 107 Hindu priests and his families along with 4 Catholic priests were released from IDP camps in Vavuniya. “The two nuns will continue to stay in the camps and serve the orphan children,” said CARITAS spokesperson, Mr. Antonymuththu.

Also in Vavuniya, Mobile Science labs and Libraries will be made available for IDP students.

• Speed up the demining process to enable early return of people, says Basil Rajapaksa MP
• 107 Hindu priests and their families released from IDP camps
• Mobile Science labs and Libraries for IDP students

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Lifeline print supplement #78 (16 August 2009)

These are the main stories of this issue:

• The government’s efforts for the displaced university students in Vavuniya camps

• Developing Northern Province railway transportation

• Landmines awareness education in Mannar district

• Interview with the Construction and Engineering Service Minister Rajitha Senaratne: “The government will use the trained persons for the development process”

• Radio Drama “Your stories” (Ungal Kathaikal):(“Mana Ulaichal”) (“Depression”) talks about the impacts of landmines.

Lifeline Daily Radio Show #158 (24th August 2009)

Around 40,000 IDPs will be resettled in Jaffna within two weeks, according to Government sources. The Government plans to resettle IDPs who belong to other places except Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu before the monsoons.

In Mannar, the government has introduced a special pass system for the transportation of fish to Colombo. 27 businessmen have applied so far and many more are expected to apply. Transporters without valid passes will have to follow routine checks.

Looking at the resettlement of thousands of IDPs, the Samurdhi bank has introduced a loan scheme for resettled people and plans to open new branches in Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

* Special loan scheme from Samurdhi bank for resettled people

* Special pass system for the transportation of fish from Mannar to Colombo

* 40,000 IDPs to be resettled in Jaffna within two weeks

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Lifeline print supplement #77 (09 August 2009)

These are the main stories of this issue:

• Northern Development process of Vadakkin Vasantham

• Resettlement and Infrastructure facilities for the Northern IDPs

• Coexistence and Leadership trainings for IDP students

• Interview with Mannar Vicar General, the Rev Victor Soosai on the Madhu Festival

• Radio Drama: Ungal Kathaikal (“Your stories”). “Abayam Avathanam” (Looking out for danger) looks at the impact of landmines.

Lifeline print supplement #76 (02 August 2009)

These are the main stories of this issue:

• A9 opening up for public

  Public travel and transportation to resume via A9 shortly

• Resettling Eastern IDPs

• Livelihood Process in Musali after the resettlement

• Interview with Mullaitheevu GA Emilda Sugumar and Kilinochchi GA Nagalingam Vethanayagam about resettlement process in Vanni

• Radio Drama “Your stories” (Ungal Kathaikal):(“Uravai thedi”) (“Searching relatives”) talks about the reunification measure within the Vavuniya camps.

Lifeline Daily Radio Show #157 (23rd August 2009)

A meeting was held between the Mullaitivu GA, Mrs. Imelda Sukumar, and Mullaitivu Area Commander, Maj. Gen. Nandana Udavatta, on the infrastructure reconstruction and re-establishment of bank and judiciary systems in the Vanni. In Vavuniya, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has taken steps to reunite people who were separated from their families during the conflict. The HRC has appointed officers within the camps to help IDPs trace their missing relatives. Also in Vavuniya, SOS organization for children established a child care center in Zone 4 at the Manik farm on August 21. 161 children have been accommodated and 8 staff members appointed to look after them. And in Mannar after almost 20 years, 1,551 persons of 348 families who were displaced from the Musali area in Mannar in 1990 were resettled in Periyamullai Potkerny, Puthuveli, Reddaikulam, Aththimurippu and Koolankulam villages on August 21. Some of the people who were resettled in Aththimurippu shared there feelings to Lifeline.

* Resettlement and infrastructure rebuilding in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu

* Human Rights Commission to support the reunification of missing persons

* SOS establishes a Child Care Center in Manik Farm

* People resettled in Musali after 20 years of forced displacement express their feelings to Lifeline (Vox Pop)

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