National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) has
been working with the people of Velikakandi, Kopaveli, Kithul,
Thumpalachcholei, and Urukamam in Chenkaladi division of Beticaloa district for
a long time. NAFSO intervenes to ensure the rights of internal displaced people
(IDP) providing also assistance for them. NAFSO has especially involved to the
problems of widows living in above areas.
A petition about the existing situation and the problems that people are facing was handed over the Chief Minister of Eastern province by NAFSO with the involvement of people on 15 of May 2012. We discussed with the chief minister on the petition. The Chief Minister was considered the problems of houses, lavatories, drinking water and electricity facilities as major issues of the people.
The Chief Minister agreed to solve those problems
giving priorities for them. As a result of that discussion, the Chief Minister
visited to Velikakandi to observe the existing situation of people. The people
of Velikakandi expressed their problems to the Chief Minister stably. The people
requested form the Chief Minister to solve their major problems and issues
related to their occupations considering peoples’ daily routines. Expressing Mr. Jesudasan who is a
representative of NAFSO also requested
from the Chief Minister to solve the problems of people who are living as
internal displace people. He considered that there are many people who were
resulted but they are living without any basic facilities. NAFSO implements
some programs for helpless people, he motioned furthermore.
Intervening, the Chief Minister promised to provide
solutions for all problems finding and directing those issues for the
responsible officials. He believes that he is able to provide houses and
lavatories through the project which is going to be implemented as a joint function
between Sri Lanakan and Indian governments. He motioned that he would meet the
people of Velikakandi again before his second visit he would like to build a
fane and arrange the meeting in that.
The people of Velikakandi, IDPs in Kopaveli,
relevant government officials, and some forces’ officials, Mr. Jesudasan who is
the coordinator of North and East of NAFSO, Lavina Hasanthi - women
coordinator of NAFSO and Priyankara Costa-coordinator of IDPs
program participated to the occasion.