Legal Aid Centre for tsunami victims opened in Trinco

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 00:29 GMT]
Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka Wednesday morning opened its Free Legal Aid Centre in Trincomalee district to provide free legal assistance to victims of tsunami disaster. Asia Foundation is funding the project tsunami victims in obtaining relief for their hardships. Mr.S.S.Wijeratne, Chairman of the LACSL and Mr.Anton Balasingham, High Court Judge, Trincomalee district jointly declared open the office of the Trincomalee centre on the second floor of the Trincomalee Court Complex. Mr.K.Sivapalan, Attorney-at-Law has been appointed co-coordinating officer of the centre.


Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka has already established four such centers in Balapitya, Matara, Akkaraipattu and Kalmunai, sources said.

Ms S.Sivapathasuntharam, Trincomalee District Judge, and Mr.V.Ramakamalan, Trincomalee Magistrate and Justice (retd) Mr. Hector Yapa, Director General of the Legal Aid Commission. also participated in the event. Ms Ananthy Kanagaretnam, Programme Officer Access to Justice of the Asia Foundation represented her institution.

Mr.Wijeratne addressing a meeting, which followed the ceremonial opening of the centre, said main objective of the Legal Aid Commission is to help the vulnerable people through various projects. An awareness program is also being planned for lawyers.

He appealed to lawyers and others to render all assistance to make the project a success.

Justice Mr. Hector Yapa also spoke.

Mr.K.Sivapalan, President of the Trincomalee Bar Association (TBA) made the welcome address and Mr.A.Jegasothy, Secretary of the TBA proposed vote of thanks.