It was revealed that there are a number of people, some even in their teens, who are disabled due to the conflict or born deformed as a result of the conflict, leading lonely lives ignored by their relations and ostracized by society, who become victims of trauma in addition to many kinds of physical ailments. Also, the elderly who are sick or physically disabled are shunned by their families because they cannot contribute to the survival of the family.

The project has designed to provide care, companionship and counseling to such people, while helping them to improve their capability of reintegrating with society by relieving their stress and then developing their abilities and skills so that they will not only benefit but will also have the inner strength to lead a normal life.

At the same time the project will focus on relatives or the immediate caregivers of these people, who will receive counseling and training on how to care for people who are left at the mercy of others due to unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances.

The grant provided under the scheme of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project, will be utilized to offer holistic care and to develop the abilities and skills of handicapped and elderly people through physiotherapy clinics, first aid services, psychosocial counseling, business counseling, technical training to encourage self-help micro ventures, playgroups for affected children to relieve stress and aid integration, training in dress making skills for disabled and awareness building on health and social issues.

The project will be implemented in eleven villages in Ampara including Gonagola, Mangalagama, Sinnawatha, Nugalantha, Boapola,

Rajagalathenna, Maha Oya, Nawagiriyawa, Aranthalawa, Nuwaragalawatta and Piyasaragama. The project is also designed to cover, under the same programme, fifteen villages in Kalmunai incuding Central camp, Pandiyiruppu, Maruthamunai, Akkaraipattu, Alayadivembu, Thirukkovil, Thambiluvil, Karaitheevu, Periyaneelavanai, Sangarapurm, Kannakipuram, Wellavely, Vakiyella and Navithenvely areas. The Government of Japan considers the rehabilitation and development of handicapped people an important humanitarian assistance. Japan’s prime intention in providing such assistance is to encourage people who suffer from various kinds of disabilities to develop their abilities and skills and to improve themselves.

Survivors Associated, a National Non-Governmental organisation (NGO), established in 1996, has been engaged in offering holistic care at grassroots level to marginalized people of all ethnic groups affected by armed conflict in the North, East and North Western Provinces.

The signing of the Grant Contract took place at the Japanese Ambassador’s Official Residence on the 10th December 2004. His Excellency Mr. Akio Suda, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Vanniyasingam Sasi Raj, Director, Survivors Associated signed the Grant Contract, while Mr. M.I.S. Ahamed, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, Mrs. Vineetha Weerasekera, Registrar-NGO Secretariat, Mr. K. Vethanayakam of Divisional Secretariat, Kalmunai and officials of the Japanese Embassy were present at the occasion.