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Lifeline Daily Radio Show #202 (29 October 2009)

2335 IDPs were released from Vavuniya camps to be resettled in Jaffna and east. Photo shows one of the families that was released.

Efforts to get 65,000 children in the East back to school and people who were displaced from Pattippalai in Batticaloa during the mid-1980s are to be resettled soon. The tourism sector in the East is growing thanks to several development projects while trade is increasing in Vavuniya.



  • Efforts to get 65,000 children in Eastern Province back to school

  • Families displaced from Pattippalai, Batticaloa to be resettled soon

  • Tourism development continues in the east

  • Trade rapidly increases in Vavuniya

Efforts to get 65,000 children in Eastern Province back to school

Around 65,000 out of 384,000 (approximately 18%) of the school going children in the Eastern Province have opted to give up their education, according to Eastern Province Education Minister, Wimalaweera Dissanayake.

He said that details were being collected on students who have stopped their education and efforts to bring them back to schools were being carried out with the assistance of UNICEF.

The children have been forced to stop their education due to many reasons including war, tsunami and problems within families.

Families displaced from Pattippalai, Batticaloa to be resettled soon

People who were displaced from Keviniyamadu village in the Pattippalai Divisional Secretariat, Batticaloa, during the mid 1980s are to be resettled in the near future.

The final meeting regarding the resettlement of the people will be held tomorrow and will be chaired by Eastern Province Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan.

Eastern Province, Resettlement Coordinator, Arunachchalam Selventhiran said around 104 families who were displaced from their homes after 1985 were now living with their friends and relatives in Kaluthavalai.

Tourism development continues in the east

The tourism sector in the Eastern Province is improving with many local and foreign tourists visiting the area.

The government has focused on three places – Nilaveli, Arugambay and Kuchchaveli – to develop tourism in the province.

Secretary, Tourism Ministry, George Michael said the government hoped to complete all its projects there in the next 18 months.

Meanwhile, President, Arugambay Tourist Hotels Association, Abdul Raheem said there has been a drastic increase in land value in the last few months.

Trade rapidly increases in Vavuniya

Economic developments have been growing rapidly in Vavuniya during the past few months. Many businesses and construction activities have begun with the involvement of businessmen from other districts.

President, Vavuniya Chamber of Commerce, S. Sridharan said the roadside businesses have improved during the period.

However, Nadaraja Thevakrishnan, a businessman in Vavuniya warned that the growth was due to the increased number of people following the influx of civilians and that it would decrease once the people are resettled.