Trinco journalists briefed on torture victim rehabilitation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 November 2002, 18:33 GMT]
The Family Rehabilitation Center (FRC) in Trincomalee Saturday held a one-day seminar for local journalists on rehabilitating torture victims. "The main objective of the FRC is to rehabilitate the victims of torture physically and psychologically and make them to lead normal lives in the society," said Dr.Gnanagunalan, medical officer of the FRC when addressing the seminar held at Trincomalee Town Hall Saturday morning.

Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim journalists from all parts of the district participated in the seminar.

The FRC is a humanitarian non-profit non-governmental organisation. It provides holistic care to survivors of torture and severe trauma due to the armed conflict. The FRC formed in 1991 has ten branches in the country. The last was opened in Jaffna following the signing of the cease-fire agreement. The other branches are functioning in Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya, Amparai, Batticaloa, Kalmunai and Moneragala. The head office of the FRC is in Colombo.

Dr.Gnanagunalan, addreessing the FRC seminar for journalists on toruture victim rehabilitation.

Dr. E.G.Gnanagunalan, medical officer briefed the journalists on the work of the FRC in rehabilitating victims of the conflict. He said the FRC was able to rehabilitate hundreds of torture victims in the Trincomalee district. Several victims of torture sought assistance of the FRC. Medical clinics were conducted in Colombo and in outstation branches to help the torture victims to obtain better medical and psychological care, he said.

The FRC which earlier focused its attention solely on rehabilitating torture victims due to armed conflict in the country has now drawn up plans to assist the displaced to resettle in their areas taking into consideration the changing situation in the country," said Mr.S.Sathiskumar, District Counsellor addressing the seminar.

Journalist Mr.K.Ratnalingam spoke on "the role of the media in promoting peace and ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka". Group discussion was held on the topic, " How media personnel can support the work of the FRC". The group leaders presented later reports.