World Bank helps Vavuniya families to resettle

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 February 2003, 21:03 GMT]
As the first phase of World Bank's Unified Assistance program for helping displaced families resettle in their own villages, World Bank's resident representative in Sri Lanka, Peter Harold, presented checks of Rs.25,000 (US $250) to forty families, in a meeting held at the Vavuniya Tamil Maha Vidyalayam, Saturday, sources in Vanni said.

Peter Harrold and Mr.A.S.Gunasingam caught in a happy mood

Of the 20,000 families who have resettled in the Vavuniya district, 6000 will receive the monitary assistance through the world bank scheme this year, said K.Ganesh, Government Agent (GA), Vavuniya. Each family will receive Rs. 100,000 in phases under this program, he added.

Vavuniya Government Agent, K. Ganesh, Director of Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN), Selvin Erenuess, Advisor to the Prime Minister, A.S.Gunasingam, Director of the World bank funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project, T. Lankanesan, Vanni District SLA commander, Major General Susil Chandrapala, Vavuniya district Head of the political section of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), S.Elilan, Representative of the UNHCR, District co-ordinator of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, Thirgnanasampanthamoorthy, and parliamentarians N. Sivasakthi Anandan and Selvam Adaikalanathan participated in the event, among many others.

"Politicians who can exhibit a lot of courage are required to take the peace process forward. We all have to appreciate the courage shown by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers in agreeing to a ceasefire and committing themselves to work towards peace," said Peter Harold.

"International community is watching the events in SriLanka very closely. World Bank is participating in helping resettle people affectedby war. We expect the funds provided for these purposes to be spent wisely.

"Checkpoints in Omanthai and Muhamalai will be provided with electricity shortly. Once this is completed, I anticipate that authorities will allow these checkpoints to be open 24-hours," added Peter Harold.

A.S.Gunasingam, NECORD's T. Lankanesan, parliamentarians Adaikalanathan and Sivasakthi anandan, LTTE's Elilan, SIHRN's Ireneuss also spoke.




Selvyn Ireneuss, Director General of SIHRN, giving a cheque under the unified assistance to a beneficiary.


Peter Harrold is giving a cheque for Rs.25000/- under the unified assitance scheme.


Guests being led in a procession. Mr.K.Ganesh, GA Vavuniya, Mr.T.Lankanesan, Mr.Peter Harrold, MPs Selvan Adaikalanathan, N.Sivasakthy Ananthan, Mr.Selvyn Iranius the Director of SIHRN S.Elilan LTTE political head in Vavuniya and others.


Peter Harrold, Mr.A.S.Gunasingam Adviser to the Prime Minister, Mr.T.Lankanesan Director NECORD Project, UNHCR Representative in Vavuniya, Mr.S.Elilan Political head of LTTE in Vavuniya are being received at Tami Madhya Maha Vidyalayam.