Trinco workshop emphasizes GO, NGO co-operation vital for NE development

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 17:34 GMT]
A one-day awareness workshop on ‘Government Organizations (GO) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Collaboration in Development’ was held Wednesday at Trincomalee Education Training Center. "It is high time for the GOs and NGOs to work together for the development of the northeast province which has been devastated by the war," said Mr.N. Puhendran, Deputy Director of Planning addressing the workshop.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Policy Development and Implementation and the National Foundation for Collaboration in Development and conducted by the National NGO Council of Sri Lanka.

Ms Ponmalar Rajeswaran of Institution of Nursery Studies and Gender development and Mr.S.Kalaivarnan , Project Officer of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization in Trinco are seen lighting the traditional oil lamp at the inaugural function of the workshop.

"About seven thousand orphaned children and eight thousand war widows live in Trincomalee district alone. More than forty two thousand houses have been destroyed. Up to now assistance has been provided only to construct about twelve thousand houses. More than forty two thousand internally displaced families live in 372 refugee camps and welfare centers in the country," said Mr.N.Puhendran.

Mr.Puhendran further said, "Successful resettlement of displaced and rehabilitation of the ruined economy of the province solely depend on the smooth implementation of the development projects. Leaders of NGOs and GOs should bear this in their minds. They should work in the coming months on a war footing."

NGOs and GOs are considered two hands for the successful implementation of development projects. Therefore both institutions should work together taking into consideration the urgent need to reconstruct the war torn province, said Mr.Puhendran.

Representatives from NGOs and GOs from the eight districts in the northeast province participated in the workshop. This was sixth workshop in this series.

The Director General of the Ministry of Policy Development and Implementation Mr.S.Ranugge in his inaugural address said the aim of the workshop is to promote NGOs to play more active role development and to maintain an agreed code of conduct. The workshop will also attempt to grade all non-governmental organizations on agreed criteria.

Dr.E.G.Gnanakunalan, leading social activist made the welcome speech. Mr.Saman Amarasinghe, Secretary of the National NGO Council of Sri Lanka delivered the introductory speech.

A section of participants at the workshop