2007 - IDP SriLanka

Annual Report 

2007 

CAPACITATING PROTECTION MECHANISM 

CAPACITATING IDPS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT 

LEGITIMATE INTERVENTION FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 

National Protection and Durable Solutions for 

Internall Displaced persons Project 

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

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CONTENTS 

1. Executive Summary 

2. Situation of the Displaced Persons of Sri Lanka 2007 

3. Overview of the Project 

a. Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka 

b. NPDS for IDPs Project 

4. Overview of the Objectives 

Objective 1: Capacitating Protection Mechanisms 

1.1. Capacitating Project Staff 

1.2. Capacitating Stakeholder Agencies 

1.2.1. Capacitating Security Forces 

1.2.2. Capacitating Non Government Organizations 

1.2.3. Capacitating Registrar General Department 

1.3. Making Available the Remedial Institutions 

1.4. Establishing Coordination and Net works 

1.4.1. Coordinating District Child Protection Committees 

1.4.2. Capacitating Public Relations Officers 

1.4.3. Others 

Objective 2: Capacitating IDPs and their Environment 

2.1. Capacitating Human Rights Animators 

2.2. Paid Internship for Human Rights Animators 

2.3. Capacitating IDPs and their Environment 

Objective 3: Legitimate Interventions for Protecting Human rights 

3.1. Enactment of the Internally Displaced Persons Bill 

3.2. Implementing National Policy on Resettlement 

3.3. Providing Remedies for Victims of Human Rights Violations 

3.3.1. Conducting Field Visits 

3.3.2. Providing Remedies for the Complaints Received 

3.3. Legal Research 

3.4. Activating the Mediation Boards 

3.5. Conducting Fact Finding Missions 

- 2007 Annual Report - 

National Protection and Durable Solution for Internally Displaced Persons Project 

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka 

E: hrccidp@sltnet.lk W: www.idpsrilanka.lk 

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Executive Summary 

Year 2007 brought many challenges as well as opportunities for the Project. Sri 

Lankan Government Forces were able to liberate the Eastern Province from the 

terrorist control and the Resettlement programmes were launched in the cleared areas. 

Thus Project had to extend its activities to the recently cleared areas in Trincomalee 

and Batticaloa. On the other hand Project had to temporarily close down its Project 

office in Mannar due to security situation. 

Project embarked activities based on three different objectives for the year 2007 

which were aimed at preventing and protecting the Rights of the displaced community 

and also to end displacement. 

Capacitating Protection Mechanisms: Project organized a number of activities to 

enhance the capacity of the protection mechanisms available in the regional level. 

This included capacity building of the stakeholder agencies engaged in humanitarian 

and protection activities through conducting awareness programmes, coordinating and 

capacity building of the remedial institutions in the regions and coordinating the net 

work available in welfare centers, district level and the national level such as District 

Child Protection Committees to provide protection for the displaced persons. 

Capacitating the Displaced Persons and Host Community: Project continued its 

Human Rights Animators capacity building programmes. This year Project conducted 

regular training sessions for the Animators on various aspects related to protection of 

the rights of the displaced community. Paid Internship too was provided for number 

of Animators. Project with the assistance of the Animators was able to conduct 

awareness programmes for the displaced community and the host communities. 

Mostly they were programmes tailor made to suit each Human Rights situation in the 

area. 

Legitimate Interventions for Protection of Human Rights: Project provided 

remedies for victims of violations of human rights and this year Project also 

undertook number of advocacy efforts as well. Project received a total of 949 

complaints and provided remedies for a total of 558 complaints. The Bill for the 

Protection of Displaced Persons was drafted by the Project and has been submitted to 

necessary stakeholders and the guidelines and support papers were finalized for the 

National Policy on Resettlement. Project also undertook a number of Fact Finding 

Missions, especially to recently cleared areas in the East and submitted reports and 

recommendations to the relevant stakeholders after analyzing the human rights 

situation of the area. Project also conducted 130 geographical and theatrical visits in 

the regions to monitor the Human Rights situation and to take any necessary actions. 





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Situation of the IDPs in the year 2007 

Year 2007 began with the Government’s effort to gain control in the Eastern province 

of the country and it created large number of displacements. But by the end of the 

year resettlements programmes were in process in the East. 

Displacements in the Year 2007 

First large scale fighting after the Ceasefire Agreement signed in year 2003 began in 

the year 2006 when LTTE closed the sluice gates of Mavil Aru on July 21 st 2006. 

Government Forces began a small scale “humanitarian operation” to open the gates 

and later it erupted in to a full fledged operation to recapture the areas in the Eastern 

province occupied by LTTE. Battle of Vakarai which began in October 2006 

stretched up to January 2006 and there was an increase in the number of displaced in 

Batticaloa especially displaced from Muthur, Trincomalee. 

Batticaloa 

During this period Batticaloa district hosted two kinds of IDPs, those who were 

displaced from Batticaloa district and those who were displaced from Trincomalee. In 

Batticaloa out of the 14 Divisions, five divisions - Porathivu Pattru, Manmunai South 

West or Paddippalai, Manmunai west or Vavunathivu, and Pattu South or Kiran, and 

part of Eravur Pattru or Chenkaldy division, were under LTTE administration. Nearly 

82% of the residents of LTTE area, amounting to 119,044 individuals, fled to the 

Government controlled areas. They joined the previously displaced 27,179 refugees 

from Trincomalee district and 19,262 persons displaced from Vaharai - in Batticaloa 

district, making up the total IDP population to 165,485. Presently 6719 people from 

1930 families from Trincomalee District are living in 20 camps in Batticaloa. 3124 

people from 852 families displaced from various parts of Batticaloa are living in five 

welfare centers. 14884 from 3740 families are living with friends and relatives. 

Welfare centers Quarterly trend Comparison in Batticaloa District 

NO.Welafare Centers 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

vaharai 

3 

1 1 

2 

valachenai 

Batticaloa 

28 

15 

14 14 

11 

4 

Chenkalady 

Arayampathy 

21 

17 

3 3 

1 1 1 

2 1 

0 

Kiran 

Kalawanchikudy 

Vellavelly 

DS.Divisions 

as at 26.11.2007 as at 29.08.2007 as at 07.05.2007 





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But in July Government forces recaptured the last strong hold of the LTTE, 

Thoppigala and the Eastern Resettlement programmes sphere headed by the Ministry 

of Resettlement etc were put in to action and the number of displaced in Trincomalee 

and Batticaloa dwindled 

Resettlement in Batticaloa: 4,545 families consisting 15,524 persons in Vaharai 

were resettled in May. On 14 th May 9089 families comprising of 29,399 persons has 

been resettled in in Vellavelly Division in Batticaloa. On 1 st June 2007 resettlement 

began in Pattipola with the resettlement of 6,436 families consisting of 21 570 

persons. 8028 families consisting of 27, 573 persons were later resettled to the 

Vavunathive DS. Division. Resettlement of IDPs in Chenkalady Divisional 

Secretariat area began from the end of the November 2007. 3107 families consisting 

of 10519 persons have already resettled in Grama Niladhari Divisions of 

Koduwamadhu, Pankudaweli, Karadiyanaru, Weppavettuwan, Kithulwewa, 

Marappalam, Kopavelly. 

Thus the number of IDPs in welfare centers of Batticaloa dwindles. Below table 

shows the IDP Population of Batticaloa by the end of 2007. 

Number of Persons 26,409 

Number of Families 7, 036 

Source: District Secretariat Batticaloa 

Trincomalee 

Internal displacement is a phenomenon in the Trincomalee district from 1983 and the 

numbers have been fluctuating ever since. Below table shows the number of displaced 

persons in Trincomalee by the beginning of year 2007. 

Total Number of Displaced Number of Families 1,271 

Living in welfare centers Number of Persons 4,061 

Living Outside the Welfare Number of Families 5,402 

Center Number of Persons 20,686 

Total Number of Displaced Number of Families 6,673 

Persons in Trincomalee Number of Persons 24,747 

But there are large numbers of people who were displaced to districts of Baticaloa and 

Ampara as well. 

Resettlement in Trincomalee: resettlement began in the year 2007. In March, 

some of IDPs returned to Trincomalee from Batticoloa district with support of the 

Ministry of Resettlement. During the same period 3021 IDPs arrived to Kilivetty 

Transit Camp and Paddithidal Transit camp in Muttur DS division. Most of these 

IDPs are return to their homes because their land and property is situated in the 

stipulated High Security Zone in Muthur. Verugal AGA division resettlement 

programme was completed on 06 th of September 2007. Latest Resettlement in the year 

2007 took place on 29 th November 2007. Some people from Kilivetty Transit Camp 

were resettled in Seenanveli and Uppural areas of Seruvila of DS Divisions. 





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Below table shows the number of displaced persons in Trincomalee district by the end 

of year 2007. 

Families Persons 

IDPs staying in WFC 1500 4960 

with in region 

IDPs staying with F & 684 2433 

R 

Total IDPs with in the 2184 7393 

region 

IDPs in out of district 2860 9792 

Total IDPs of 

5044 17185 

Trincomalee District 

Source: Ministry of Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Eastern province, Trincomalee. 

Mannar 

After the Eastern operations Government shifted its focus n to the Northern Province. 

Beginning of September an offensive began Musalai DS Division, Mannar. A total of 

1103 persons from 322 families were displaced to Nanattan DS division and they 

stayed at Murunkan Don Bosco Vocational Training center and Nanattan Maha 

Vidyalaya. After the arrival of Mullikulam IDPs, DS of Nanattan opened a new Place 

at Murunkan School temporarily. After some days all of them were provided new 

locations in Nanattan DS Division such as Nanattan Rice Mill, Murunkan Church 

Premises and Nanattan Church Premises. But end of the November Murunkan 

church premises IDPS found the bare land near to the welfare center and shifted there. 

They were provided with shelter. 

Beginning of the Number of Persons 8,292 

Year 2007 Number of 2,405 

Mannar 

Families 

End of the year Number of Persons 13,884 

2007 Number of 6,333 

Families 

Source: www.unhcr.lk/ 

Resettlement in Mannar: Government resettled IDPs at the Pesalai welfare center 

Siruthoppu in Mannar DS division and IDPs from Jeevanagar, Kaliomoddai 

Puliayakulam and Katkidanthakulam in Thampanaaikulam, Madhu DS division. 

Jaffna 

Beginning of the Number of Persons 43, 147 

Year 2007 Number of 13,027 

Jaffna 

Families 

End of the year Number of Persons 31, 037 

2007 Number of 8, 607 

Families 






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Anuradhapura 

No major scale displacement occurred from the district. But there were constant 

attacks on villagers living in the border villages such as Weli Oya by the LTTE. 

Number of temporary displacements occurred from the area. 

Beginning of the Number of Persons 943 

Year 2007 Number of 281 

Anuradhapura 

Families 

End of the year Number of Persons 486 

2007 Number of 141 

Families 


Vavuniya 

There are 73, 001 IDPs in Vavuniya district who were displaced before the year 2006. 

By the end of year 2007, there were 10, 643 persons who were displaced from the 

recent conflict living as displaced in Vavuniya. Most of them are living with friends 

and relatives. 

There are 6 welfare centers in Vavuniya and most of the IDPs are at Sithamparapuram 

welfare centre. 10,643 persons from 3,027 families obtain assistance from WFP and 

dry-ration. 

Many from unclear areas of Vanni were displaced to Vvauniya during this year and 

they faced many difficulties. If they have been registered earlier as IDPs they were 

requested to cancel it and there was a delay in registering them and providing 

assistance. 

Puttlam 

Since 1990 Puttlam district is hosting people displaced from the districts of Mannar, 

Jaffna, Mulathivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa etc. Most of the IDP population is 

concentrated to four DS divisions namely Kalpitiya, Mundal, Puttlam and 

Wanathawilluwa. 

According to year 2007 figures there is a total of 66, 077 displaced persons in Puttlam 

and most of them are at welfare centers or relocations. 

IDP population of Puttlam in year 2007 

DS Division Number of Number of Number 

Welfare Centers/ 

Relocations 

Families 

Persons 

Kalpitiya 90 18, 206 36, 291 

Puttlam 37 5,454 22,312 

Mundel 18 1,354 5,442 

Wanathawilluwa 08 489 2,032 

Total 153 15,797 66,077 

of 





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Resettlement in East 

Government began the resettlement of the people displaced from the Eastern Province 

in early March 2007. Government provided assistance to the resettled persons and dry 

rations were provided with the collaboration of WFP for a period of six months. 

But at the beginning there were reports of forced resettlement by the Government. 

There were instances where the displaced were threatened that dry rations will be 

removed if they do not return to their villages. Many people did not wish to return so 

as they were concerned about the security situation. Many instances they were not 

provided with go and see visits and they were concerned about the status of their 

houses and properties which were abandoned for sometime. 

Earlier the Humanitarian agencies have limited access to the recently resettled areas 

and they had to obtain prior permission to access the area which is most of the time 

under the control of either the SLA or STF. Civil administration was established in 

the areas and the other Government services i.e. education, health too were provided 

for the people. But most of these Government buildings were being damaged and hey 

need to be repaired to provide the optimum services to the people 1 . 

People returned to their homes after a few months and most of the time their houses 

were either damaged by the gun fighting or wild elephants. Most of them depended on 

either fishing or agriculture but on their return most of their equipments and live 

stocks were damaged and most of the time assistance was slow to come. 

In Trincomalee and Batticaloa some people were unable to return as the SLA has 

occupied their homes and it was mentioned that they were not provided compensation 

by the Government. In the discussions it was mentioned by SLA that the houses will 

be returned as the civil administration returns 2 . Government on May 30, 2007 gazette 

declared 12 Grama Niladhari divisions in Muthur East as High Security Zones. Major 

General Parakrama Pannipitiya was declared the competent authority and any person 

violating the regulations could be liable to a term of Rigorous Imprisonment. It was 

reported that nearly 19 schools, 27 temples fall within this area and nearly 15, 648 

persons reside in this are. But later this year Government reduced the area of the High 

Security Zone but so far this was not declared through a gazette and the people who 

were living in this area were unable to retune and they live in welfare centers in such 

as Killiveddy and Paddithidal. Compensation schemes were not decided so far for 

these people. 

In Trincomalee by the 06.09.2007 people displaced from Echchilanpattu were 

resettled. (10, 014 persons from 2, 887 families). Only the people whose lands were 

gazzetted under the high security zone and who were displaced by the ’83 riots are 

still living in the welfare centers. In Batticaloa many people who were displaced 

within the district have been resettled and the people who are displaced from 

Trincomalee are yet to be resettled. 

1 Fact Finding Missions to Trincomalee and Batticaloa west by the NPDS for IDPs Project at 

www.idpsrilanka.lk 

2 Op cite 





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Human Security 

Sporadic attacks were done by LTTE targeting civilians through out the year in 

Colombo and other parts of the country. Many times civilian transport vehicles 

became the target killing and injuring large number of civilians. 

Situation at the resettled areas was of growing concern as para - military movements 

were apparent in the area. They move freely carrying weapons. There were number of 

killings and abductions in the areas. There is heavy military presence in the areas and 

there are only a few police posts. In certain areas military conducts weekly meetings 

with the people and they were also seen assisting people to rebuild their lives. Former 

LTTE carders have revealed themselves to the Army and they seem to be contended 

with the protection provided by the Forces. But there were instances where the Forces 

were accused for human rights violations. In certain areas curfew is being imposed 

and the people have to return back to their homes by 5.00 p.m. and if not they are 

being questioned by the Forces. Some people have returned back to welfare centers 

due to security related incidents. 

Army and police conducts rounds up in the welfare centers often and in many 

occasions they have arrested people on suspicion. But no complaints on torture were 

reported to the Human Rights Commission. It can be see that lack of protection 

provided in the welfare centers had lead to the free movement of the para militants in 

the welfare centers. In Vavuniya earlier police protection has been provided for only 

Poonthottam and Sittamparapuram welfare centers, which are the two largest welfare 

centers in the district. But in March 2007 after constant attacks by the LTTE to the 

police posts in the welfare centers they were removed. Displaced persons live in fear 

of abductions, killings and forced conscription. Some times these para- military 

movements conduct round ups in the welfare centers. 

There are many instances where villagers become temporarily displaced due to the 

activities of LTTE. Many people seek refuge in nearby public buildings at night time. 

Humanitarian Assistance 

Humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons in cleared and unclear areas were 

hampered by the security situation prevailed in the North and East. Most of the 

development project in the unclear areas had to be stopped due to restriction certain 

building materials. Many agencies had limited access to the resettled areas in the East 

at the beginning as permission was needed to obtain access to the area due to security 

concerns. 

Several deaths and abduction were reported related to Humanitarian personals and it 

brought international pressure up on the country. 





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Other issues 

It has been estimated that nearly 45,000 students and 1,800 teachers were displaced 

due to the massive displacement occurred in East 3 . By May 2007, UNICEF has 

recorded 6, 461 child abductions (6, 154 by LTTE and 307 by the TMVP). LTTE 

mentioned that they will release the recruits under the age of 18 by the end of the year 

and on June 18 they released 135 children below the age of 18 4 . 

John Holmes, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs visited the 

country in August and his comments about Sri Lanka being a top danger spot for aid 

workers raised concerns. 

Special Rapportuure on Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or 

punishment, Mr. Manfred Novak was invited by the Government and visited the 

country from 1-8 October 2007. He visited many several areas of the country to assess 

the situation of torture and ill treatment in the country and provided comments to the 

Government to strengthen its efforts to improve administrative justice. He will submit 

a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council next year. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour made a visit to the country 

on the invitation of the Government in October. Her request to establish a UN High 

Commission office in the country was denied by the Government. 

A Fundamental Rights petition was filed by the Center for Policy Alternative in July 

against the establishment of the High Security Zones in Sampur but it was dismissed 

by the Supreme Court. 


The Human Rights Commission was established under the Act No.21 of 1996 and it is 

entrusted with the broad task of promotion and protection of Human Rights within Sri 

Lanka. 

According to Section 10 of the Act the Commission can inquire in to and investigate 

complaints regarding procedures, to ensure the compliance with the provisions of the 

Constitution related to Fundamental Rights 5 and also to inquire and investigate in to 

complaints regarding infringement or imminent infringement of fundamental Rights 

and to provide resolutions by conciliation and mediation 6 . Section 11 confers a wide 

array of powers to the Commission, including powers to inquire in to and investigate 

3 Op cite 

4 www.unicef.org/ 

5 Section 10 (a) 

6 Section 10(b) 





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complaints regarding infringement or imminent infringements of Fundamental 

Rights 7 , visit police and all detention centers 8 . 

Human Rights Commission advices the Government in bringing national laws and 

administrative measures in accordance with Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the 

Constitution 9 and also international standards and to promote awareness and 

education in relation to Human Rights 10 . Furthermore the Commission can advise and 

assist the Government in formulating legislation and administrative directives and 

procedures for the furtherance of the promotion and protection of fundamental rights 11 

and also could make recommendations to the Government on the need to ascribe to or 

accede to treaties that are related to Human Rights 12 . 

At incept the Commission focused in to receiving and investigation into complaints 

but later it extended its activities. The Commission became engaged in the promotion 

of Human Rights education, examining the compatibility of the laws and policies of 

the Government with the international Human Right norms and also becoming 

engaged in investigating in to systematic and group violations of Human Rights. 

In its study of vulnerable groups, the Commission recognized IDPs as a group that 

requires special attention. The twenty year old war had left number of displaced 

persons scattered especially in the North and East areas and there was no proper 

Government mechanism to protect their rights. It is the effort of the Human Rights 

Commission that led to the establishment of the Project fro IDPs to protect and 

promote the rights of the displaced Persons. 

National Protection and Durable Solution for Internally Displaced 

Persons Project 

The Project for the IDPs was established in June 2002 and it operated in the districts 

of Trincomalee, Jaffna and Vavuniya. It was the aftermath of the MOU and the basic 

hurdle that was faced by the IDPs was the violation of their civil rights and political 

rights. So in the inception programmes were concentrated on promotion and 

protection of Human Rights and they targeted mainly the displaced persons and the 

Government Officers. 

The Project expanded its serviced to the districts of Puttlam, Mannar and Batticaloa. 

In the year 2003 Project received 5,587 complaints from the regions and majority of 

the complaints were related to loss of personal documents and also issues related to 

resettlement and humanitarian assistance. 

In 2004 Project expanded its services to Anuradhapura. During the year Project 

received 2961 complaints and during the year 2004 was able to dispose 3358 

7 Section 11(a) 

8 Section 11(b) 

9 Section 10 (d) 

10 Section 10 (f) 

11 Section 10 (c) 

12 Section 10 (e) 





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complaints. As most of the complaints were related to loss of personal documents the 

Project conducted a number of mobile programmes with the corporation of 

Government Departments to provide personal documents to people. The Project also 

conducted programmes targeting IDP women, children and youth with the objective 

of promoting their rights. Furthermore Project lobbied the issues of voting rights of 

the displaced persons along with the elections that were carried out in that year. 

In 2005, the year after the fatal Tsunami swept through most of the coastal areas of 

the Country the Project opened new offices in Matara and Kalmunai to protect and 

promote the rights of the Tsunami displaced persons in those areas. As means of 

capacitating the Displaced Persons Project began to formulate the Human Rights 

Animators Programme which encouraged displaced youth to engage in Human Rights 

Protection activities of the Project. 

By 2006 Matara and Kalmunai regions were closed down as the Human Rights 

Commission began another Project targeting the Tsunami displaced persons. In year 

2006 Project received a total of 551 complaints and disposed a total of 296 

complaints. To build a protective environment for the displaced persons Project 

carried out an awareness programme on the language Rights of the people with the 

National Language Commission. Project enlarged its advocacy role in partaking to 

draft a Bill to protect the Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons and also the 

Policy on Resettlement. Furthermore report was published related to dry rations and 

was lobbied among the stake holders. Project’s training that earlier targeted only 

Government Officers and Displaced Persons was also enlarged and trainings were 

conducted for Police and for Forces. 

Overview of the Objectives 

It can be seen that over 312,000 war victimized IDPs who displaced years ago and 

there are over 200,000 IDPs are still living out of their habitual residents and living in 

welfare centers or in resettlement villages. In addition to that most of them in war 

alarm zone are economically displaced due to security restrictions and other 

concerns. They were not able or they were not facilitated to return to their native 

places or to resettle elsewhere. 

Furthermore that no war and no peace situation that prevailed in the country had 

diminished the confidence of the people and it had lead in to create systematic 

violations of Human Rights including social and economic rights of the people. For 

example Tamil speaking people are not able to make their complaints to police in 

their language and it leads to law quality remedies. The war affected IDPs are 

discriminated or differently treated and no legal regime to protect them. 





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The available humanitarian packages are not meeting IDPs requirements and they 

need to be updated. There is no proper coordination between the stake holders to 

achieve a common goal and so far displaced persons have not been recognized as 

vulnerable persons and were not treated with affirmative actions. 

It was to address these lacunas that Project developed three objectives for the year 

2007, namely 

Objective 1: Capacitating Protection Mechanisms: Project intended to reach 

accessible remedial mechanism institutes to facilitate then and to provide advocacy 

for them to reach their mandates. 

Objective 2: Capacitating Internally Displaced Persons and their Environment: 

Project intends to capacitate the displaced persons as well as the host community to 

response to Human Rights violations in a constructive manner. 

Objective 3: Legitimate intervention for protection of Human Rights: one of the 

mandates of the Project is to provide relief to violations of Human Rights and in this 

objective Project has expanded its mandate and provides not only relief but also 

advocacy for the relevant stake holders to prevent violations of Human Rights. 

It is based on this platform that progresses of these objectives are needed to be 

addressed. 

Objective 1: CAPACITATING PROTECTION MECHANISM 

Capacitating included providing training, facilitating and promoting the stake holder 

agencies such as Remedial Mechanism Institutions, Police and the Forces etc. 

1.1. Capacitating the Project Staff 

Capacitating the Project staff included providing in house and outs side training for 

the Project staff related to improve their knowledge and skills that is necessary to 

carry out their tasks in the Project. 

Project conducted training for the Project staff on Project activities such as on 

conducting visits, arranging the Remedial Mechanisms programme, complaint 

handling. Furthermore trainings were conducted for the administrative staff on risk 

management, security and vehicle maintenance, accounts maintenance. Furthermore 

all the Project staff was offered Computer Training by the IT assistants unit of the 

Project. 

Furthermore Project staff was facilitated to participate in out side Human Rights 

related courses especially conducted by University of Colombo and University of 

Peradeniya. 





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1.2. Capacitating Stake Holder Agencies 

It is necessary to capacitate the stake holders who are closely working with the 

displaced persons such as Police, Forces, Non Government Organizations to carry out 

their humanitarian activities and protection activities to serve the displaced 

community in a satisfactory manner. Thus numbers of training porgrammes were 

carried out by the Project for them. 

1.2.1. Capacitating the Security Forces 

Training the security forces especially on the areas of rights based disaster response, 

Humanitarian law, Human Rights law and Protection of the displaced community was 

considered a priority by the Project as they closely work with the displaced 

community in a regular basis. 

Project coordinated with the IHL unit of the Army Head Quarters and the participants 

for the programme and the areas of training were decided after discussions with them. 

No Date Division No. of 

Participants 

01 24.10.2007 23 Division at Walikanda 30 

02 04.12.2007 Army Head Quarters at Colombo 41 

03 19/20.12.2007 22 Division at Trincomalee 43 

Total 113 

Three programmes were conducted for a total of 113 officers and in Trincomalee the 

programme was for both the army and the Police officers. In these programmes 

mainly ranking officers such as Captains, Majors, Colonels and Lt. Colonels were 

chosen as they are the commanding officers of the sectors and it was felt necessary to 

aware the commanding officers first on protection of the rights of the displaced 

persons. 

Army Programme, Trincomalee, 19-20.12.2007 

1.2.2. Capacitating the Non Government Organizations 

NGOs play a major role at different stages of displacement cycle i.e. prevention, 

preparedness, emergency response, recovery and in rehabilitation. They have access 

to Government controlled and also to unclear areas and they have human resources 

and physical resources reasonably to meet the demands of the people. 

Thus it is necessary to clearly aware them on the rights of the displaced persons and 

also to coordinate their activities with other organizations. In this capacity building 

programme Project undertook to aware the participants on Human Rights and 





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Humanitarian Law and also tried to build coordination between the participant 

organizations though discussions to make sure that they do not work in isolation. 

Project conducted 10 programmes with the participation of 394 officers from 103 

organizations in the regions of Ampara, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Vauvuiya, 

Mannar and Batticaloa. 

Conducting NGO programmes in the Regions 

1.2.3. Facilitation of the Registrar General Department 

There are around 300,000 IDPs in Sri Lanka and most of these IDPs are not in 

possession of personal documents. These displaced people have lost their personal 

documents, such as Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Marriage certificates, 

National identity cards, Deeds and other necessary personal documents. Since they 

don’t have important personal documents it has become difficult to ascertain their 

rights such as, rights of land and property, to enter in to schools and education 

schemes, to enjoy the freedom of movement, to cope up with the existing security 

situation by ascertaining their identity, to engage and enjoy other necessary rights 

enshrined through the international and local instruments. 

This situation made these IDPs frustrate and many complaints were made to the 

Human Rights Commission, according to the reports of Human Rights Commission, 

3792 complaints on birth certificates, 310 complaints on National Identity cards and 

150 complaints on death certificates has been reported during 2003 to 2006. However 

there are thousands of people who are not in possession of personal documents and 

who have not made any complaints to the Human Rights Commission. 

In order to ascertain these IDPs enjoy their rights with full freedom NPDS for IDPs 

Project, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka decided to facilitate the Registrar 

General Department to issue personal documents. It was decided to facilitate RGD to 

conduct mobile service programmes, capacitate RGD staff, to facilitate them in 

printing documents necessary to ensure registration and to develop a software 

programme to issue birth certificates. 

This software programme will enable to issue birth certificates within a day and it 

will consist of many other unique features such as to make any alterations from any 

part of the country without any delay. Currently this task is carried out by ICTA and 

the programme will be issued during the first quarter of 2008. 





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It was decided to facilitate the RGD in printing hand books on Rules for the guidance 

of Registrars of marriages, births and deaths (Sinhala & Tamil), Muslim marriage and 

divorce Act (Tamil) and Birth and Deaths Registration Act No: 17 of 1951(Tamil) 

since these documents provide guidance for registration. 

Conducting Mobile Service programme in Vakarai, Batticaloa, 

Training programmes were conducted for Additional District Registrars, Additional 

Divisional Secretaries, and Administrative officers of the DS offices from 

Anuradhapura, Puttlam and Batticaloa districts and for Local Registrars of the 

Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Puttlam, Vavuniya, Mannar, Mulathivu and Kilinochi 

districts on Powers, functions and duties of RGD, Registration of births, deaths, 

Marriages, Registration process and human rights. Through these training 

programmes altogether 388 Additional District Registrars, Additional Divisional 

Secretaries, Administrative officers and local registrars were trained. Training 

programmes scheduled at Trincomalee, Ampara and the ADR training programme 

scheduled in Puttlam were postponed, since the new Registrar General was appointed 

and the RGD staff were not able to conduct those programmes. 

Following subjects were discussed in ADR, ADS and AO training programmes, 

Powers, Functions and duties of Registrar Department, Registration of Births and Late 

registration of Births, Registration of Deaths and Late registration of Death, 

Registration of Marriages, Procedure of dealing with Declaration in Registration 

process and Registration process and Human Rights. Local Registrars training 

programmes were conducted on following topics, Duties and Responsibilities of 

Village Registrars and Registration process and Human Rights. Following table 

illustrates the details of the concluded training programmes, 

Training Programmes for ADRs, ADS, AOs and Local Registrars 

Region 

Nature of 

P articipants 

Date 

Venue 

No of 

participants 

Jaffna 

Batticaloa 

ADR, DS, 

ADS & AO 20.06.2007 Kachcheri 54 

Local 

Registrars 19.06.2007 YMCA hall-Jaffna 45 

ADR, ADS 

Green Garden Hotel, 

& AO 10.07.2007 Batticaloa 30 





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16 

Anuradhapura 

Vavuniya 

Puttalam 

Total 

Local 

Registrars 09.07.2007 

ADR 22.07.2007 

ADS & AO 21.07.2007 

Local 

Registrars 21.07.2007 

Local 

Registrars of 

Vavuniya, 

Mannar, 

Kilinochi and 

Mulathivu 

31.07.2007 

Green Garden Hotel, 

Batticaloa 31 

CTC hall, 

Anuradhapura 8 

CTC hall, 


CTC hall, 


Agrarian Department 

hall, Vavuniya 42 

DS Conference Hall - 

Puttalam 38 

ADS & AO 04.08.2007 

Local 

Registrars 04.08.2007 PDRC Hall- Puttalam 53 

10 

Programme s 

388 

Twenty five mobile service programmes were conducted in Trincomalee, Vavuniya, 

Mannar, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Puttlam and Jaffna districts. Objective of these 

mobile service programmes is to provide personal documents to the IDPs to ensure 

registration of past births, registration of past deaths and registration of missing 

person’s death and registration of Marriages. 

6680 applications were received and out of those applications 2475 Births, 33 Name 

Alterations, 346 Deaths and 86 Marriages have been registered and 474 Probable Age 

Certificates were issued. There are 2304 applications without adequate supportive 

documents and they have been sent to DS offices to obtain the supportive documents. 

Further 962 applications were completed and forwarded to ARGs to issue the relevant 

documents. 

Special attention should be given to the Mobile service programme scheduled on 12 th 

June 2007 at Pulmudai DS division of the Trincomalee district. It was conducted at 

the Yanu oya bus stand, since the project staff and Mr. Sathasiva Iyer ARG (Eastern 

Zone), were unable to reach T/ Anvaarul Ulum Arabu College, where program was 

originally scheduled due to the security situation. 

Conducting the 

Mobile Service 

program at Yanu 

oya bus stand, 

Only Registrar of 

Pulmoddai, GNs 

& HRAs 

participated the 

program, 





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In a total of 25 programme the Project was able to issue the following number of 

programmes, 

Number of Birth Certificates 2, 475 

Number of Death Certificates 346 

Number of Probable Age Certificates 474 

Name Alterations 33 

Marriage Certificates 86 

Further 10 HRAs were released to Nagenahira Nuwaragam Palatha DS office, 4 

HRAs to Puttlam District and 5 HRAs to Kacheri, Batticaloa to clear the backlogs in 

the districts and 6 HRAs were released to facilitate the Nagenahira Nawodhaya 

mobile services in Vaharai and Wavunathivu DS divisions. Those Human Rights 

Animators were granted with a certificate by the Registrar General Department. 

1.2.4. Coordinating Remedial Institutions 

There are judicial, quasi judicial institutions available in the country which is 

mandated to hold the administrators accountable for their actions and inactions. These 

institutions are empowered to receive public complaints and to provide relief and 

redress. Thus promoting them among the displaced community and also making the 

institutions aware on issues of the displaced persons is vital for guaranteeing the 

rights of the displaced persons and well as the host community. Thus Project in 2007 

decided to coordinate the remedial institutions in the regions. 

Institutions that participate for the meetings in the regions are, RGD ( ADR, Land 

Registrar), Police, Consumer Affairs Authority, Labor Department (District Labor 

Officer), HRCSL (RC), Social Service Dept (RDO), Board of Samurdhi (Promotion 

Officer), Legal Aid Commission , DPDHS, District Probation Officer etc. 

Project conducted a total of 20 coordination meetings in the regions of Anuradhapura, 

Batticaloa, Mannar, Puttlam, Trincomalee and in Vavuniya. Human Rights 

Commission in the respective regions also participated in these meetings. 

Meetings in the regions of Trincomalee and Vuvniya 

In this coordination effort Project was able to provide number of benefits for the 

displaced community. To name a few, 





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In Trincomalee, the medical clinic was in Madaththady which was very far from the 

welfare center. As result of the meeting the medical clinic was transferred to cultural 

hall welfare center where the (Muttur) IDPs are presently accommodated, after 

discussing with DPDHS who participated for the coordination meeting. 

In Anuradhapura, Wahalkada, Central dispensary did not have a residential medical 

practitioner for a long time. After having a meeting with DPDHS, a new residential 

doctor was appointed. In addition, at Wahalkada PHI had not come to visit 

cooperative shops to check the quality of the dry rations. After having a discussion 

with DPDHS in the Remedial Mechanism Meeting, PHI has started to do his duty in a 

proper way. 

In Mannar, it came to light in the coordination meeting that Police used to forward 

the child abuse cases to the courts without consulting the probation officer. After 

having a meeting with SSP, Police agreed to consult the probation officer before 

going to courts. 

In Vavuniya Kalnatikulam, people did not have proper transport facilities for school 

children. The CTB Manager was called for one of the meetings and after discussions 

he provided a bus for that particular route. 

1.4. Establishing Coordination and Net Works 

1.4.1. District Child Development Committee Activities 

DCDC is a coordination newt work established in the Districts with the participation 

of Government and I/NGOs working primarily for the children and it regularly meets 

and the meetings are generally chaired by the District Secretary of the respective 

district. Project, from the establishment of the meetings had been an active participant 

and has taken much interest in its activities. Project with the assistance of the relevant 

Government officers in many instances were able to provide assistance for displaced 

children who are in need. Thus this year Project decided to expand its involvement 

with the DCDC. 

Thus to ensure effective carrying out of the services of the DCDC Project in all the 

regions decided to complete an year plan for the Committees. Going further in 

Anuradhapura and Puttlam districts three year action plans have been completed by 

the Project with the assistance of the relevant participants of the Committee. In 

Colombo Project undertook to formulate the year 2007 plan for the National Child 

Protection Authority and in here special focus was upon promoting the rights of the 

displaced children. 

Furthermore Project conducted three training programmes for the participants of the 

DCDCs on laws and regulations related to children in the country. 135 persons 

participated for the programme. 





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1.4.2. Capacitating Public Relations Officers/Civil Affairs Officers 

Several programmes were conducted for Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Officers, 

Internal Officers of the Divisional Secretariats; Rural Development Officers etc on 

IDP related issues as their service is vital for the displaced community. Furthermore 

building network with them eases much of the monitoring activities of the Project. 

Project conducted a total of 20 programmes for 693 participants. 

Furthermore it was requested by the Project the Grama Niladharis from Anuradhapura 

and Vavuniya requested Administrative circulars as they were not provided with 

them. Thus Project provided the necessary circulars for them to conduct their services 

to the community effectively. 

1.4.3. Others 

Project participated in the meetings conducted by the UNHCR and Ministry of 

Disaster Management and Human Rights in formulating the Confidence Building 

and Stabilization Measures workshop and also participated in Ministerial meeting 

on this subject to implement the Project. 

Project also participated for the CCHA Sub Committee meeting on Resettlement 

and Welfare of IDPs coordinated by the Ministry of Resettlement, IDP Protection 

Coordinating Meeting convened by the Ministry of Disaster Management and 

Human Rights and the IDP Working Group Coordinated by the UNHCR. 

Objective 2: Capacitating IDPs and their Environment 

Activities that centered on this objective are mainly focused on obtaining the active 

assistance of the displaced community to protect and promote their rights. It is 

expected by capacitating the displaced community and their environment which 

includes the host communities to respond to their violations of Human Rights in a 

constructive manner. 

2.1. Human Rights Animators Training Programme 

Human Rights Animators Progranmme was an ongoing Programme of the Project 

which involves the participation of the displaced youth of the community to protect 

and promote their rights. 

One of the main objectives of the programme is to capacitate the youth on their role as 

protectors and promotes of their rights by conducting regular year long training 

sessions for them. Project conducted a total of 67 porgramme for the animators in 06 

regions and the subject matter included Familiarization with IDP Rights, Social 

survey and research methodology, “Sahana” programmes, arrest and detention, 





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20 

Economic, social and cultural rights, land and property rights, Vulnerable groups 

rights and peace building etc. 

Conducting 

awareness 

programmes 

Project utilized the Human Rights Animators to collect data and information of 

violation of human rights and data related to rights of people and share with 

appropriate institutions, Assist and coordinate the Human Rights and humanitarian 

organizations to protect and promote Human Rights, Assist and direct victims of 

violation/abuse of rights of people to the appropriate remedial institutions, Assist the 

Human Rights promotional institutions in conducting programmes at the community 

level. Empower the IDPs in welfare centers, relocations and resettled areas by 

creating awareness on rights of people and finally assist the humanitarian activities at 

an emergencies. 

Services of the Human Rights Animators were requested by the Registrar General 

Department to clear the back log on files in their regions. Thus 10 HRAs were 

released to Nagenahira Nuwaragam Palatha DS office, 4 HRAs to Puttlam District 

and 5 HRAs to Kacheri, Batticaloa to clear the backlogs in the districts and 6 HRAs 

were released to facilitate the Nagenahira Nawodhaya mobile services in Vaharai and 

Wavunathivu DS divisions Those HRAs were granted with a certificate by the 

Registrar General Department. 

Due to their role Human Rights Animators became a link between the Project and the 

displaced Community in the grass root level. Furthermore they initiated programme 

son their own for the up liftman of their community and the Project provided its 

fullest support to them. One of the successful stories was the actions under taken by 

the Poonthottam Welfare center, Vavuniya Human Rights Animators who initiated a 

programme to eradicate alcohol problem from their welfare center. 

2.2. Paid Internship for Human Rights Animators 

From 2002 on wards project offered paid internship for selected Human Rights 

Animators in all regions. This year also project decided to offer three months of paid 

internship for two Human Rights Animators in every region. So in this year 57 

internships have been given to the selected Human Rights Animators in all regions. 





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21 

2.3. Awareness Programmes for Internally Displaced Persons and Host 

Communities 

Awareness programmes were conducted for the displaced communities and the host 

communities in the view of making them aware on their rights and to make them 

constructively response to their rights violations. 

These programmes were specifically arranged with the assistance of the Human 

Rights Animators and mostly on their request. Furthermore Project when visiting the 

areas finds out that the people should be made aware o specific issues such as Laws 

related to Arrest and Detention, Remedial Institutions then the Project would arrange 

an awareness programme sometimes this could be a peace building programme to 

sooth the tension between the Displaced Community and the Host Community. 

Project also received request to conduct awareness programmes on Emergency 

Regulations and camp management, women rights, child rights etc. 

Project conducted a total of 74 porgrammes in 06 regions and 4,159 both displaced 

and host community persons participated for the programme. 

Conducting 

awareness 

programmes 

Objective 3: Legitimate Intervention for Protection of Human Rights 

3.1. Enactment of the Internally Displaced Persons Bill 

Project initiated the Programme of drafting a proposed bill on Internally Displaced 

Persons for the following reasons. 

• It was observed that different kinds of internally displaced persons i.e. war 

displaced, Tsunami displaced, displaced by development oriented programmes 

were being treated differently 

• The persons displaced by war, natural disasters and development oriented projects 

are unable to exercise certain rights and enjoy benefits afforded under existing 

laws 

• The displaced persons are subject to certain disadvantages as a result of their 

inability to comply with certain existing legal requirements 





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22 

Thus through the proposed Bill Project wishes to guarantee certain rights for the 

internally displaced persons and also provide for a certain number of agreed welfare 

for the displaced persons whether displaced by natural disasters, war or by 

development oriented programmes. Though the proposed Bill an Authority will be 

established to monitor the implementation of the Bill. Bill will also discuss the 

Following issues namely Registration of the Internally Displaced Persons, Health and 

Sanitation, Education, Personal Documents of the Internally Displaced Persons, 

Compensation for deaths and injuries, housing and property damages, Food Relief, 

Special Provisions for the voluntary groups, Vocational Training etc. 

Project has already prepared the Bill and the necessary support papers and presently 

the Bill has been circulated in the Regional Level and in the National Level among 

the Government Officers and Non Government Organizations for their feed back and 

presently making arrangements to lobby the Bill among the Government stake 

holders. 

3.2. Implementing the National Policy on Resettlement 

There had been large scale resettlement programmes arranged for people displaced by 

development projects, natural disasters or by war. But unfortunately a comprehensive 

policy covering all these types of displacements and resentments have not been 

compiled in the country and it has lead to different treatment of different kinds of 

displaced persons. 

Thus Project decided to prepare a National Policy on Resettlement with the 

participation of Stake Holders in the national and Regional Level. The areas that will 

be discussed in the workshop are i) Land and Compensation, (ii) Site and Shelter 

planning, (iii) Selecting beneficiaries and ensuring participations of them, (iv) 

Implementation and Stakeholder Coordination, (v) Motivation and Socialization and 

(vi) Construction and Settlement and (vii) General Policy guidelines 

The main stages of drafting the National Policy were started in last year and the focus 

in the Year 2007 was to conclude final drafts of the policy. Furthermore due to 

security situation Project was not able to conduct workshops in Mannar and in Jaffna. 

In year 2007 Project was able to conduct a workshop in Mannar on the 18 th October 

with the participation of 39 stakeholders representing both Governmental and Non 

Governmental sector. 

After scrutinizing all the out comes of the regional work shop, project was able to 

draft the background paper and the policy guidelines of the National Policy. Moreover 

Project was able to get the media coverage for the National Policy on Resettlement 

from ‘Derana’ channel and Channel Eye and it was highly appreciated. 

The National Policy was submitted to the Human Rights Commission and in the 

coming future Project will release the Policy to the necessary stakeholders 





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23 

3.3. Legal Research 

In this proactive role of Human Rights protection in assessing selected issues of the 

displaced persons Project intends to assess the situation of the displaced community, 

with regards to the selected rights. Then the Project intended to lobby the Findings 

among the stakeholders in the regional and national level. 

One of the topics that were chosen was Rights to Education of the Displaced 

Children. The objective of the right to education research paper is s to assess the 

educational rights of the conflict related IDPs in Sri Lanka and the availability, 

accessibility, acceptability and adaptability of this right. While assessing the right, the 

issues regarding equity and equality and also discriminations suffered by displaced 

students and the availability of affirmative actions for such discriminations have been 

addressed. In this regard, the educational situation in six Districts of Sri Lanka, 

namely Batticaloa and Trincomalee of the Eastern Province, Mannar and Vavuniya in 

the Northern Province, Puttalam in North Western Province and Anuradhapura in 

North Central Province were identified. Based on the facts and information from the 

Districts, the issues and problems relating to education were crystallized and the 

recommendations have been submitted to the relevant stake holders to overcome the 

issues and problems so raised 

Project obtained the service of a researcher to conduct a research on the health 

situation of the displaced persons. This was not a legal research and a research to 

assess the Heath and Sanitation standards of the displaced Communities. Researcher 

visited welfare centers, resettlements and relocations in North Central and Eastern 

parts of the country. Project will utilize the findings of this report in conducting 

regional and national level awareness programmes with the Health authorities to 

promote the health service standards among the displaced community. 

Conducting the research in Trincomalee 

3.4. Facilitation of Mediation Boards in the Districts 

Mediation boards have been established in Sri Lanka through the Mediation boards 

Act No. 72 of 1988 and later amended by the Act No. 15 of 1997 and by the 

Mediation (Special Categories of Disputes) Act No. 21 of 2003. Mediation Boards 

function with the aim of settling disputes in a friendly manner. 

The advantages in settling the disputes through Mediation Board are that it avoids 

further grievances and disputes between the disputing parties as they are not 





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24 

adversarial in nature. In addition, Mediation is inexpensive and not time consuming. 

There are some disputes and offences where act has referred as mandatory it must be 

referred for mediation before any proceeding start from courts and other disputes 

which may voluntarily be referred for Mediation by the choice of the parties. In this 

ambit, it is apparent that the service done by the mediation boards are very helpful for 

the country and its people to ensure justice. Even though the services provided by it, 

highly appreciated, there are people who do not have access to mediation boards. The 

worst side of this scenario is that the people are still suffocating from the 

disadvantages of the adjudicative process and it has caused unnecessary case backlogs 

at the courts. 

In order to establish a Mediation Board, the area should be specified as “Mediation 

Board Area” in the gazette by the minister according to the section - 4 of the 

Mediation Boards Act. In addition, according to the section 5 of the Act, the 

Mediation Board Commission should call for nomination for appointment of 

mediators. Interview will be held soon after receiving the applications form the 

candidates. Then; the selected candidate will be given residential training by the 

Ministry of Justice as mediators. 

Function of the Mediation Board is very rarely found in most of the area in Batticlaoa, 

Trincomalee, Vaunya, Mannar and Jaffna District. There are some areas recently 

controlled by the Government Security Forces. Since most of the inhabitants in the 

district have no access to Mediation Board, they have to access courts to seek 

remedies for their grievances. As the people in the resettled area or in the displaced 

districts are very much under poverty level, they find very much difficult to access the 

court when their rights are being violated. Considering the difficulties of the people in 

the district and the need of the function of the Mediation Board, the NPDS for IDPs 

Project of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, decides to facilitate to 

establishment of the Mediation Board in the area. 

The National Protection and Durable Solution for Internally Displaced Person’s 

Project of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (The Project) decided to facilitate 

remedial mechanisms including Mediation Board under its objective. The function of 

the Mediation Board has been stagnated especially in North and East Provinces. 

Therefore, it is decided to facilitate the Mediation Board Commission to expedite the 

process of setting up the Mediation Board especially in some districts in North and 

Eastern Provinces. The Project facilitates the Mediation Board Commission to collect 

applications form the candidates and to hold interviews in the Divisions and to 

expedite the process of training for mediators. 

In this regard a numbers of activities had been under taken by the Project in Jaffna, 

Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mannar and Vaunya District for the establishment of 

Mediation Board. 

Jaffna District 

In Jaffna district, approximately 617,543 persons from 191,955 families are living in 

435 GN Division of 15 DS Divisions as per 2007.08.31 District Secretariat Statistic. 

Jaffna District has 15 police stations. Out of 15 DS divisions in Jaffna, Mediation 





24

25 

Boards were already functioning only in 09 areas namely in Jaffna, Nalloor, Velanai, 

Kayts, Chankanai, Thellipalai, Sandilipai, Uduvil, and Karaveddi. In Jaffna District, 

all DS divisions, except Karainahar, have been specified as Mediation Board area and 

by the Gazette No 1315/13 published on 2003.11.20; a Notice had been called for the 

nominations for the appointment of Mediators in the area. 

With regard to the establishment of Mediation Board, in the rest of the areas in Jaffna 

district, 

The project had a meeting on 2007.07.19 with the GA of Jaffna. In addition, The 

Program Manager had a meeting with the GA of the Jaffna District on 2007.08.01 

regarding the establishment of Mediation Board in the rest of the divisions. 

Subsequently, the Project had facilitated the Mediation Board Commission to hold the 

interviews in the rest of the areas. In this regard, interviews were held in Delft, 

Nalloor, Point pedro, Mathurenkerny, Chavakachcheri, Koppai, and Karinahar 

Divisions with the support of the NPDS Project. 

The outcome of the interviews in Jaffna district is given below in the table. 

No Mediation Board area Date of Interview Numbers of Person 

Selected 

01. Delft 2007.09.10 08 

02. Nalloor 2007.09.10 05 

03. Pointpedro 2007.09.11 25 

04. Maradenkerny 2007.09.11 02 

05. Chavakachcheri 2007.09.12 25 

06. Koppai 2007.09.13 25 

07. Karai Nahar 2007.09.14 12 

Due to the unrest situation and displacement, only few candidates only reported from 

Delft and Mathurenkerny. The applicant should be called again for the interview in 

the areas. Applicants from Nalloor had only been called to fill the vacancy of the 

Panel of Mediation Board in Nalloor. 

Batticaloa District 

In Batticaloa district, approximately 579,469 persons from 147,197 families are living 

in 348 GN divisions of 14 DS Divisions which consist of 422,679 Tamils, 151,487 

Muslims, 4,117 Burgers and 1,162 Sinhalese and 24 others as per 2005/2006 District 

Planning Secretariat statistics. There are 12 police stations and 30 police post in 

Batticaloa District. Out of 14 divisions in Batticaloa, Mediation boards were alraedy 

functioning only in six places namely Kattankudy, Oddamavady, Eravur, 

Valaichchenai, Batticaloa, Manmunai Pattu. 

Most of the DS divisions in Batticaloa are recently captured by the Sri Lanka Security 

Forces. Still resettlements are being in progress in those areas. According to the 

Gazette dated on 20 th of July 2004, Koralai Pattu South (Kiran), Manmunai south 

Eruvil Pattu (Kaluvanchikkudy) and Koralai Pattu North (Vakarai) were gazetted as 

Mediation Board areas in Batticaloa District. 





25

26 

When the Program Manager of the NPDS for IDPs Project had a meeting with the 

GA, Batticaloa on 17 th of May 2007 with regard to the establishment and need of 

Mediation board in the rest of the area, GA agreed to form Mediation Board in other 

area if those areas once it is endorsed in gazette. Except Vaharai, Vellaveli, Pattipolai 

and Vavunathivu Divisions, interviews were held by the Mediation Board 

Commission to recruit the panel mediators in all other areas in Batticaloa. 

Since the interviews were not held in the said Divisions, the project decided to 

facilitate the interview process in the areas. Subsequently, the applicants of Vaharai 

and Vellavali had been called for interview in the last week of December 2007. 

Initially, the interviews were held with the support of the Project in Vellavali and 

Vaharai to select the panel members of mediators in the areas. Divisional Secretary 

and Administrative Officer of Vellavaelli and Vaharai have presented as interviewer 

for the respective division with the Assistant Legal Officer of the NPDS project 

Vavunya and Batticaloa. 15 numbers of applicants in each division have been selected 

form the interview for the residential training. 

Picture taken on 2007.12.31 at the DS office Vaharai in the Mediation Board Panel Member Selection interview 

For Pattipolai and Vavunathivu Divisions, interviews for the selection of Mediator 

will be held in 17 th and 18 th of January 2008 respectively. Interviews were held by the 

Mediation Board Commission in rest of all other area in Batticaloa District. 

Trincomalee District 

In Trincomalee district, approximately 412,547 persons from 101,743 families are 

living in 230 GN divisions of 11 DS Divisions which consist of 143,282 Tamils, 

168,696 Muslims, 100,454 Sinhalese and 115 others as per 2005/2006 District 

Planning Secretariat statistics. There are 12 police divisions in Trincomalee District. 

In Trincomalee, only four mediation boards are in operation namely in Kantale, 

Gomarankadawela, Pathavisiripura and Thampalakamuwa. 

Mediation boards are to be formed at Town and Gravets, Kinnya, Seruvila and Muttur 

Division since these areas are specified in gazette, on 2003.11.20, to call for 

application for the nomination of Mediators. In addition, Moraveva and Kuchchaveli 

Divisions also have been gazetted on 2004.07.20 as Mediation Board areas in 

Trincomalee district. Eachilampattu Division which came under the control of the 

government in last year still has not been gazetted as Mediation Board area. 





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27 

Since, Mediation Boards are not formed in most of the areas at Trincomalee; the 

Project decided facilitates the establishment of Mediation Board in the rest of the area 

in Trincomalee District. In this regard the Project had a meeting with the GA of the 

Trincomalee District on 2007.07.25 regarding the establishment and need of 

Mediation Board in the rest of the divisions. The procedural and documental support 

was requested by the GA of Trincomalee District. The Project provided all the related 

gazettes and laws related to establishment of Mediation Board and applications were 

called through Divisional Secretariat of Each division. As a result, numbers of 

application received form each Division. 

It is scheduled to have interviews for the selection of Mediators in Kuchchaveli, 

Kinnya and Muttur divisions on 16 th , 17 th and 18 th of January 2008. In the rest of the 

areas dates will be fixed very soon to hold interviews. 

Mannar 

In Mannar District, approximately 103,936 persons are living in 153 GN divisions of 

05 DS Divisions, as per 2005/2006 District Planning Secretariat statistics. There are 

only 3 police stations in Mannar District. In Mannar, still there are no mediation 

boards functioning. But the necessity for the establishment of Mediation Board is felt. 

In Mannar district, Mannar town, Nanattan, Madu, Musali and Mantahi west are 

gazetted on 2004.07.20 as Mediation Board area and the application for the 

nomination for the mediators had been called in the gazette dated on 2004.10.04 for 

the above area. The IDPs Project, Mannar had three meeting with the GA of the 

Mannar District regarding the need for the establishment of mediation boards in 

Mannar. 

Subsequently, the NPDS project and GA of Mannar called for a meeting on 

2007.05.19 with the Divisional Secretaries of the Mannar District regarding the 

establishment of MB. The GA, in the meeting stated that to start the establishment of 

MB board initially in Mannar DS division then to extend to Nanattan and Musali 

Divisions. 

In addition, the NPDS for IDPs Project has advertised on 2007.12.10 in Thinakaran 

and Dinamina News paper to apply for the panel members of Mediation board in 

Mannar, Madu, Nanattan, Musali and Manthai Divisions. The interviews, for the 

selection of Panel of mediators will be held soon after receiving the application. 

Vavunya 

In Vavunya district, approximately 180,949 persons are living in 102 GN divisions of 

4 DS Divisions as per 2005/2006 District Planning Secretariat statistics and there are 

only two police stations. There are no Medaition Boards in Vavunya Dsitrict. 

Vavunya, Vavunya South and Venkalachettikulam are gazetted on 2003.11.20 to call 

for application for the nomination of Mediators. Vavunya north is not under the 

control of government. Interview has already been conducted in Vavunya South for 

the selection of Panel of Mediators there. 





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28 

The Project had a meeting with the GA of the Vavunya District regarding the 

establishment and need of Mediation Board in the rest of the areas in the District. GA 

agreed to form Mediation Board in the above area. The interview will be held in soon 

with the support of the NPDS Project. 

In Brief, applicants of Delft and Maderenkerny Divisions in Jaffna District should 

over again be called for interview as the number person was not attended in the 

interview held there due to security reason. Karainhar AGA Division in Jaffna Should 

be endorsed in gazette as “Mediation Board area” according to the section 4 of the 

Mediation Board Act. In Trincomalee, Eachilambattu should be authorized as 

“Mediation Board area” by a gazette notice. Dates should be confirmed for the 

interviews of the applicants in Seruvila, Moraweva and Town & Gravets Divisions in 

Trincomalee. In Batticaloa District, steps must be taken to provide the initial training 

for the selected candidates (in the 8 divisions where the selection procedures of 

Mediators already came to an end) by the Ministry of Justice. Although, the all DS 

areas in Mannar and Vavunya District, except Vavunya North, had been endorsed in 

Gazette as “Mediation Board Area “ , still no progress in establishment of Mediation 

Board in the area. However, interview for the selection of mediators already have 

been concluded in Vavunya South and initial training should be provided for the 

selected candidates. 

The selected candidate’s list from the each district sent to the Mediation Board 

Commission for further action. 

3.5. Conducting Constructing Field Visits 

Visits conducted by the Project are both proactive and reactive in protecting the rights 

of the displaced community. Geographical visits conducted by the Project are planned 

visits that have been scheduled for a specific location as it is expected that these 

regular visit will enable to project to address protection needs of the displaced 

community and also will act as a preventive measure. Project also conducts thematic 

visits and these are basically reactive measures where the Project visits a location as a 

result of a complaint or due to an incident reported or any other specific reason. 

Below are the details of both Geographical and thematic visits conducted by the 

Project. 

Region 

Number of Visits 


Batticaloa 22 

Jaffna 07 

Mannar 10 

Trincomalee 29 

Vavuniya 16 

Total 124 





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Conducting visits 

Project was able to provide many remedies for the displaced communities through 

these visits. Below are some of the details. 

Anuradhapura : Medawewa Relocation village, Kabethigollewa DS Division 

Project after discussions with DS was able to provide water tanks that were necessary, 

in Kudawewa, Madawachchiya DS Division, project with discussions with NGOs 

was able to provide school items to needy children, in Government Paddy Store 

welfare center, Ippologama DS Division project after discussions with DPDHS was 

able to provide a doctor for the nearby Rural Hospital as a doctor was available, 

Salambapura, Rambewa DS Division temporary toilets were provided for the 

school as they did not have toilets, Mawathwewa school in Horowpathana DS 

Division didn’t have the necessary teachers and after discussion with Education 

Department necessary teachers were sent. 

Batticaloa : At the beginning of the year Project conducted visits to number of 

welfare centers situated around Batticaloa town providing protection to people 

displaced from Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas and monitored the Human rights 

Situation, issues of forced resettlements too were reported and Project timely 

intervened to prevent such resettlements, later part of the year Project visited the 

resettled areas in the recently cleared areas to monitor the resettlement process. 

Jaffna : Project visited number of welfare centers situated around Jaffna to monitor 

the Human Rights situation and found many issues related to dry rations, shelter and 

electricity and discussions were conducted with relevant authorities to provide the 

mentioned facilities. 

Mannar : especially during the displacement in September Project regularly visit the 

new centers and closely work with the Government Officers to provide facilities such 

as drinking water and toilet facilities to the displaced persons, number of instances 

were reported about providing bad quality dry rations and delay in providing dry 

rations and Project after discussions with health officials was able to solve the issues. 

Mobile clinics were conducted to provide personal documents and Project utilized 

these field visits to collect necessary details and also to aware people about the 

programme. 

Puttlam : In Mallihapuram, Fareedabath, Sembaamadu and Madeenapuram in 

Puttlam DS it was mentioned that they have a mosquito issue and Project organized a 

Sramadana with the assistance of Pradeshiya Sabha to clean the area. there were 





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many legal issue that relocated and resettled communities were interested in knowing 

and through Human Rights Animators Project was able to aware the communities. 

Trincomalee : there were many instances that it was complained that people were 

being resettled without their consultation and Project intervened and prevented such 

issues, After observing the most of the people in recently resettled areas have lost 

their personal documents project decided to conduct mobile service programmes in 

those areas and visits were used to collect details and to provide information to people 

about the mobile porgrammes, Project regularly visited the resettled areas to monitor 

the situation. 

Vavuniya : After observing the mismanagement in the regions Project in many 

welfare centers established camp coordination systems and this greatly assisted the 

people who have been living in welfare centers for decades, After observing that 

many people in welfare centers have lost their personal documents project conducted 

mobile service programmeswth the assistance of the Registrar General Department 

and visits were used to collect necessary details and to aware people. 

3.7. Conducting Fact Finding Missions 

Time is the essence in the Protection of Human Rights and Project initiated Fact 

Finding Missions and quick response programmes to address human rights issues and 

to minimize systematic violations. 

Regional Offices conducted number of quick response visits to welfare centers and 

other settlements when they receive credible information of possible human rights 

violations. On such visits Project was able to monitor he situation and was also able to 

take necessary actions against the responsible authorities. The issues that Project was 

able to interfere, ranged from security related issues to livelihood aspects. This 

method is more effective than complaints made by individuals as by such 

interferences Project is able to provide protection to large number of persons. 

Project also conducted number of Fact Finding Missions in its regions. Most of these 

were focused on human rights situation of a particular geographical area. 

• Batticaloa: 21 st – 23 rd March Project visited the recently opened welfare centers 

for the people displaced form Thoppigala, Vauniatheevu and Karadiven Aru. 

Project monitored the facilities that were made available for them and coordinated 

with the necessary authorities which are providing relief to these people. 

• Weli Oya AGA Division, Anuradhapura: 22 nd and 23 rd May, this visit was done 

with the participation of the remedial institutions. Discussions were held with 

Government Officials and people in the area and their issues of concern were 

pointed out to the visitors. This is one of the least developed areas of the Mahaveli 

scheme and supportive programmes were requested and people were also 

concerned about their security as it is an area bordering Vavuniya and Mullathivu 

districts and they requested more security protection. 





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• Vaharai DS Division, Batticaloa – 2 nd and 3 rd June - Project visited, Batticaloa 

after Government took control of the area. Government resettled 14, 568 persons 

from 4, 227 families and in this fact finding mission Project was able to monitor 

the human rights situation and to take actions by lobbying the findings among the 

local authorities and in the national level. Project prepared a fact finding mission 

which referred to registration of the resettled people, relief and education and 

health facilities and forward the findings and recommendations to the local and 

national authorities and Project received positive response from the authorities. 

One of the most successful responses was the sending of school books to schools 

in Vakarai by the Ministry of Education after receiving the Fact Finding Report. 

• Echchilanpattu AGA division, Trincomalee - 23 rd -24 th July – Fact Finding 

Mission was conducted to monitor the situation of the recently resettled persons. 

Discussions were conducted with Government Officials, Officers from Forces and 

resettled persons. It was requested to upgrade the AGA division to a DS office so 

more facilities will be made available to the people. Project also visited the 

Killiveddy Welfare center and Paddithiddal welfare center where people whose 

houses are situated in the Muthur west High Security Zone were temporarily 

settled. So far they were not provided with alternative land or compensation. 

These issues were lobbied in the national level and in the regional level among the 

Government and Non Governmental stake holders. 

• Poratheevupattu, Manmunai South West and Manmunai West DS Division, 

Batticaloa – the Fact Finding was conducted to monitor the situation of the 

recently resettled persons. Project conducted meetings with Government Officials, 

Officials from the STF and recently resettled persons. Most of the issues were 

related to security and livelihood and they were lobbied with the necessary 

national and local stake holders. 

• Nanattan Division, Mannar – 17 th September - people who were displaced from 

Silavathura due to the Operation that was carried out by the security forces were 

temporarily residing in 3 welfare centers situated in Nanattan DS division. 

Discussions were held with the local authorities and Project tried to facilitate the 

relief programmes for the displaced persons. 





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2007 - IDP SriLanka

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