Batticaloa TRO office attacked by unidentified men wtih a grenade.
[TRO News section, August 07, 2003 07:00 GMT]

தமிழர் புனர்வாழ்வுக் கழகத்தின் மட்டக்களப்பு பணிமனை மீது, 6.8.2003 அன்று இனந்தெரியாதோர் கைக்குண்டு வீசித் தாக்கியுள்ளனர். மட்டக்களப்பு மகிழடி வீதியில் அமைந்திருக்கும், புனர்வாழ்வுக்கழக பணிமனைமீது 6.8.2003 அன்று இரவு 8.20 மணியளவில் இத் தாக்குதல் நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கைக்குண்டைவீசியஇனந்தெரியாதோர் ஓடித்தப்பித்துள்ளனர். இக்கைக்குண்டுத் தாக்குதலில், பணியக வளாகத்தில் நின்ற, பிரித்தானியாவைச் சேர்ந்த மிதிவெடியகற்றும் நிறுவனம் ஒன்றின் வாகனம் ஒன்று கடுமையாகச் சேதமடைந்துள்ளது. .இராணுவ அதியுயர் பாதுகாப்பு வலயத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள இந்த அலுவலகம் மீது மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட இந்தத் தாக்குதல் பற்றி கண்காணிப் புக் குழு மற்றும் பொலீஸார் விசாரணை மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றனர். மட்டக்களப்பில், தமிழர் புனர்வாழ்வுக்கழக பணிமனை மீது நடத்தப்பட்ட இரண்டாவது தாக்குதல் இது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. கடந்த ஆண்டு டிசம்பர் மாதமும், இத்தகையதொரு தாக்குதல் நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளமை தெரிந்ததே.

Batticaloa TRO office attacked by unidentified men wtih a grenade.
[TRO News section, August 07, 2003 07:00 GMT]

Unidentified men who came in a motorbike hurled a grenade at the office of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Mahiladi Veethi in Batticaloa Wednesday (06.08.2003) night around 8.20 p.m. The grenade fell inside the premises of the TRO office damaging a vehicle of the international demining organisation, Mine Advisory Group (MAG). The grenade was lobbed soon after the vehicle entered the TRO office. people were astounded because this attack occurred within the army's high security zone area.

Who is responsible for this attack is not known but people said "This is a impudent and discreditable attack, TRO is a registered NGO (Non-Government-Organization) - if NGO's do not have security, then how can people live in safety without fear".

On receipt of information about the attack, monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Batticaloa, army and Police rushed to the site and conducted an investigation. The police started recording statements from the driver of the damaged vehicle and others of the TRO regarding the incident.

Foundation stone laid for Batticaloa Transit Centre.
[TRO News section, August 06, 2003 10:00 GMT]

A ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a third Transit Centre in the North-East was held in Aayiththiyamalai, Batticaloa on Wednesday the 06.08.2003. The Transit Centre is part of a project to reintegrate underage recruits and children seeking recruitment back to their communities, which is being run by TRO in partnership with UNICEF.

The traditional oil lamp was lit by Mr Ted Chaiban, Country Director for UNICEF, Mr. K.P. Regi, Executive Director of TRO and Mr. Puniamoorthi, AGA for Batticaloa. The foundation stone was laid by Batticaloa-Trincomalee district bishop, Dr. Kingsley Swampillai.

A large group of people representing a number of local, national and international organisations attended the ceremony.

TRO Opens a Sewing Training Centre at Potkerni Thampalakamam.
[TRO News section, August 04, 2003 10:00 GMT]

The Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation, Trincomalee Branch declared opened a Sewing Training Centre at Potkerni, Thampalakamam on 2 August 2003 to provide vocational training for the war affected women in the village.

The President of the Potkerni Rural Development Society and the District Director, TRO Mr Mathavarajah lit the traditional oil lamp, and the Thampalakamam Political Head Mr S Thirumalai declared open the Training centre. Mr Nallasivam, TRO Divisional coordinator presided over the ceremony. LTTE Trincomalee district political wing leader Mr S Thilak handed over the scissors and cloth to the teacher in charge of the sewing centre.

Thampalakamam was an ancient prosperous Tamil village with thousands of acres of well-irrigated farm, but was devastated in 1985 forcing the populace to flee with loss of many lives and property. Since the signing of the MOU between the Govt. and LTTE in 2002 the village is limping back to normalcy with the return of hundreds of families from Wanni and elsewhere. The widows and unemployed youths in this village need vocational training for job opportunities and income generation. TRO has identified this village as one of the target villages in Trincomalee District for poverty alleviation through vocational training and other assistance

TRO opened a Computer Training Centre in Muttur east.
[TRO News section, August 03, 2003 11:30 GMT]

Trincomalee district Tamils Rehabilitation Organization opened a Computer Training Centre at Chenaiyoor in Muttur east established under the sponsorship of TRO's Canadian branch on Saturday (02.08.2003) evening.

TRO's Muttur co-ordinator Mr.S. Gopal presided over the event and made the welcome address, the LTTE's Trincomalee district political head Mr. Thilak hoisted the Thamileelam national flag. LTTE Trincomalee district commander Colonel Pathuman unveiled the name board of the Computer Training Centre. The political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Mr. Thamilchelvan opened the centre by cutting the ribbon,TNA parliamentarian Mr. K. Thurairetnasingham, Trincomalee District NGOs Consortium President Mr. T. Thavasilingam lighted the traditional oil lamp.

Mr. Thamilchelvan, Parliamentarian Mr. K. Thurairetnasingham and TRO Trincomalee district co-ordinator Mr. K. Mathavarasa also spoke. Finally Mr. Gopal made the vote of thanks.

Community participates in Social Development workshop.
[TRO News section, August 02, 2003 09:30 GMT]

TRO sponsored and carried out a social development workshop in Paappamoddai, Mannar on 01.08.2003 to gather input from the local people into the preparation of a social development plan for the area.

At the workshop, Asia Development Bank post conflict specialist Mr. Brand Smith and Social Development Adviser GTZ-NECORD Mr S.Iramalingam met with the Paappamoddai people to discuss the plans for their community.

The Maanthai West Government Agent, District Planning Officer of NECORD, AGO, and TRO staff including local Director Genas Seesor and Mr Mariyanayagam Kross also participated in the workshop

Sittampalam Jeyapalan, visited FSD-trained and funded deminers assistance of Humanitarian Demining Group(TRO)
[TRO News section, August 03, 2003 11:00 GMT]

Senior officer of the Swiss Demining Foundation (FSD), Sittampalam Jeyapalan, visited FSD-trained and funded deminers who are working in the Mannar area with the assistance of Humanitarian Demining Group. In LTTE controlled areas of Adampan and Periyamadu, the FSD deminers have cleared an area stretching 34,341 sq. meters. A total of 180 landmines and 1094 shells have been removed to date and these were later destroyed at Nayaru area.

Mr. Jeyapalan said that 1394 land mines, 9 claymore mines and 8 unexploded shells have been also been removed from the Talaimannar West and East areas in the last one hundred days. He further added that on request from Mannar Government Agent and Officers of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, mine clearing efforts in Liberation Tigers (LTTE) controlled Adampan area have begun, to facilitate resettlement of displaced.

Administrative officials in Talaimannar said that the clearing of mines has allowed displaced residents from Talaimannar pier area to prepare for resettlement. Officials said that Mallavarayan, Kattai Adampan, Periya Neelasenai, and Pumalarnthan villages have also been identified for mine clearance and only after clearing these areas will resettlement be feasible.