Trincomalee displaced youngsters in child labour

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 October 2002, 22:14 GMT]
Over half the children staying at welfare centres and refugee camps in Trincomalee do not attend schools and instead work as child labour, according to a government official who has been involved in rehabilitation of displaced people in the district.

"There are twelve refugee and welfare camps in Trincomalee district with more than thousand families. They live under severe difficulties. More than eight thousand women in the Trincomalee district have lost their husbands due to war. These women have shouldered the responsibility of looking after their families with great difficulties, said Mr.Puhendran, Project Director of Trincomalee District Planning Unit when participating as the chief guest at the International Postal Day celebrations held in Trincomalee St. Josephs' College auditorium Sunday.

"International and local organisations show keen interest in protecting child rights. However, the child labour is continuing in Sri Lanka," said Mr. N. Puhendran.

"There are twelve refugee and welfare camps in Trincomalee district with more than thousand families. They live under severe difficulties. More than eight thousand women in the Trincomalee district have lost their husbands due to war. These women have shouldered the responsibility of looking after their families with great difficulties,” said Mr. Puhendran.

He added that in Sri Lanka more than twenty two thousand displaced families stay in about 375 refugee camps and welfare centre spending their lives on doles provided by the governmental and non-governmental organisations. They await permanent peace to return to their villages.

The Deputy Postmaster General (eastern region) Mr. A. R. Thurairajah, Trincomalee Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices Mr. N. Ratnasingham also spoke. Trincomalee zonal director of Education Mr. K. Thilakaretnam was the guest of honour.