The European Union (EU), through its implementing partner the International Organization for Migration (IOM), provides a new water supply system for the community of Ihalagama, in the Ampara district under its Community Livelihood Support Programme.
The water supply system includes a water tank with a capacity of 60,000 liters and a pipeline supply system providing water for a distance of 11.6 km from Medagama to Ihalagama. Read the rest of this entry »
The Netherlands has pledged EUR 2 million (LKR 277,820,000) to support two IOM programmes that are helping internally displaced people (IDPs) to return home and reintegrating former LTTE Tamil Tiger combatants into civil society.
The contribution of EUR 1 million to each programme will allow IOM to continue to help families to return to their home areas in the north and east of the country from Menik Farm and other displacement camps in Vavuniya. Read the rest of this entry »
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has pledged AUD 3.3 million (nearly US$3 million) over three years to support IOM’s efforts to generate the sustainable return and socio-economic reintegration of internally displaced people in the north and vulnerable communities affected by landslides in the centre of Sri Lanka.
The project, which is the 3rd Phase of IOM’s Australian Community Rehabilitation Programme (ACRP) launched in 2006, will work with local government and other institutions at the local level to improve access to jobs and services for impoverished and vulnerable communities.
The programme will provide grants to help communities to rebuild their livelihoods and develop skills through training. It will provide tools and equipment, mobilize people and rehabilitate community assets such as markets, irrigation systems, access roads and other infrastructure. Read the rest of this entry »
A beneficiary receives a canoe from IOM at the assistance handover ceremony in Batticaloa, on the east coast of Sri Lanka, 300 km from the capital Colombo
By Passanna Gunasekera
A group of young former combatants recently received canoes, outboard engines, water pumps and tool kits from IOM at a ceremony in Batticaloa, on the east coast of Sri Lanka, 300 km from the capital Colombo. The equipment, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was to help them start new livelihoods as fishermen, farmers or the owners of small businesses.
With the war over and the security situation now calm in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikel (TMVP) - the rebel factions who fought a separatist war in Sri Lanka for almost three decades - are trying to integrate back into civilian life. Read the rest of this entry »
By Passanna Gunasekera
Decades of war, years of displacement and the security restrictions imposed on fishing, almost paralyzed Mannar’s principal source of livelihood -fishing-. However, one year after the conflict has ended, the economic landscape of the fishing village seems to have changed. More and more fishermen from the local fishing community of over 1000 fishermen as well as displaced populations returning to their village of origin are taking to the sea once again, thereby resuming their traditional livelihood.
Fishing accounts for more than 50% of livelihoods in Mannar. Deep sea fishing is very popular and economically considered to be more profitable. Industries related to the fisheries sector such as ice storage facilities, canoe manufacturing, out board motor repair workshops and dry fish production also provide employment opportunities to the population in Mannar. Thus taking into consideration its vitality to the local economy the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is looking into ways of reviving this industry in the former conflict zone. Read the rest of this entry »