Civil society meeting with SCOPP General Secretary in District Secretaries of Ampara and Batticoloa

Civil society organisations met with Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe, the Secretary General of SCOPP in the District Secretariats of Batticoloa and Ampara on the 24th June and 25th June respectively. Similar meetings with SCOPP were held from 2004.

The purpose of the meetings had was to exchange views and  understand the ground reality as well as working conditions for civil society in Ampara and Batticoloa District and to see how the SCOPP can assist with overcoming any difficulties they face in implementing their work.
 
The organizations appealed to SCOPP to intervene and ensure that abductions by unidentified persons are stopped, assault on youths do not take place, delays at check points are minimized, free legal aid services be accessible to grieving persons, information in those who get arrested be made known to their families, conflict affected victims be provided with priority service in obtaining social welfare, roads and transport systems improved. A  mechanism is being contemplated at district level to receive complaints from grieving parties if they feel injustice has been done to them and a focal point be appointed at the District Secretariat to facilitate communication with security establishments and civil society when mutual concerns arise.

The Secretary General, after paying heed to the ground issues faced by the Civil Society Organizations while carrying out their work, expressed his contentment over the work carried out by the NGOs which has undoubtedly lessened the burden of the Government.

He suggested that all NGOs, whist maintaining good coordination and networking among themselves, must focus on Language development opportunities in all projects and also look into the possibilities of providing more vocational training for school drop outs so that they can engage themselves in the job opportunities in Sri Lanka as well as the Middle East. He also emphasized the importance of linking all communities when designing projects.

[CHA as a national service provider in the non-profit sector and
representative of the resources and work of the humanitarian sector in Sri
Lanka]