3 more SLA detention centres for Vanni IDPs opened in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 March 2009, 15:23 GMT]
Three additional Sri Lanka Army (SLA) detention centres have been opened in Thenmaraadchi to detain the civilians fleeing war in Vanni, namely Kodikaamam Govt Tamil Mixed School (GTMS), Jaffna University Chiththa Aayurveatha College hostel in Kaithadi and Saiva Children Home of Jaffna Saiva Maha Chapai in Kaithadi, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, the temporary school erected with UNICEF funds in a private land near the SLA detention centre in Kodikaamam GTMS for the children in the detention centre was officially inaugurated Thursday morning, the sources added.

Altogether around 2,849 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have arrived in Thenmaraadchi until now, Thenmaraadchi Divisional Secretariat officials said.

Of these 1,313 IDPs are detained in Mirusuvil Catholic Church centre while 706 in Kodikaamam GTMS, 647 in Chiththa Aayurveatha College hostel and 183 in the Saiva Children Home are held, the officials said.

More than 600 children from grades 1 to 13 began their school Thursday in the temporary school built with UNICEF funds in a private compound next to Kodikaamam GTMS detention centre where these children are held.

UNICEF, Government and Education officials took part in the inauguration of the school Thursday.

The children in the school lack nutritional food, school uniforms and learning accessories, according to government officials.

UNICEF Jaffna officials said that special allocation of funds have been made to cater to the needs of the children to regain their learning skills, in their plans for the current year.