Trinco Village level officers briefed on human rights

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 2004, 00:55 GMT]
The Legal Aid Foundation (LAF) of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka organized a one-day symposium for the Grama Niladhari (village level) Officers in the Trincomalee district to create awareness on human rights, human values and humanitarian law, civil society sources in Trincomalee The event was held in Krishnathasan Memorial Hall in Trincomalee.

hief guest Mr.V.Velummylum lighting the traditional oil lamp

Over one hundred village level officers of all communities from eleven divisional secretariat divisions in the district participated in the symposium.

A veteran retired civil servant Mr.V.Velummylum was the chief guest at the event.

Trincomalee district co-ordinator of the LAF Mr.K.Sivapalan (Attorney-at-Law) in his introductory speech said that several laws related to human rights in Sri Lanka's statute book are rarely used to prosecute the offenders. Hence members of the public service would question the need to participate in seminars on human rights and other related issues.

Trincomalee co-ordinator of the LAF Mr.Sivapalan speaking at the event

"Without knowing laws related to human rights we cannot create awareness among the public on human rights, human values and humanitarian law. The symposium is organized to educate the village level officers about laws in the Statute related to human rights," said Mr.Sivapalan.

LAF Project Co-ordinator Ms Kamini Dissanayake said in her speech that women who work in Middle East countries occupy the number one position as foreign exchange earners. Second position goes to garment factory women workers and the third position to tea plantation workers.

"It is sad to state that although women are the backbone of the foreign exchange earning for the country their human rights are adequately safeguarded. Authorities have failed to take steps to safeguard their human values and other related privileges", said Ms Kamini Dissanayake.



(L-R) Ms Annapackiam Sithamparapillai of LAF, LAF project co-ordinator Ms Kamini Dissanayake, chief guest Mr.Velummylum, Mr.K.Sivapalan are seen on the head table with two LAF officials



Speakers and participants also spotlighted the plight of internally displaced people languishing in welfare centres and camps at the seminar.

Miss Annapackiam Sithambarapillai of the LAF mentioned that safeguarding the human rights of each and every citizen is criticial to the welfare of a country.

Several speakers spoke on rights of senior citizens and child rights.



A section of the Grama Niladhari Officers particpating in the symposium