ADRA Sri Lanka through the third phase of the Local Economic and Social Strengthening (LESS) project recently conducted a series of programs to raise awareness regarding the services offered by the local government institutions, among the refugee returnee communities of the Manthai West and Nanattan Divisional Secretariats of the Mannar District.
Refugee Returnees face numerous challenges when resolving issues related to their lands and documentation, and it’s evident that they are unaware of the different services offered by local government institutions to resolve these issues. Therefore, the project facilitated a series of awareness programs recently which saw the participation of members from Refugee Reintegration Networks (RRNs), duty bearers from different local government entities, members from the Rural Development Society, and Women’s Rural Development Society.
The programs created awareness regarding services offered concerning the Samurdhi, lands, registrations, social services, and disaster management. Furthermore, it created space for dialogue between the duty bearers and the RRNs which will lead to better mutual understanding, increased awareness among both parties, sustainability, and accountability from both parties.
The LESS III project is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Home Affairs and is implemented by ADRA Sri Lanka in partnership with ADRA India. The project is implemented in the Vavuniya, Mannar, and Kilinochchi districts of Sri Lanka to provide durable social and economic solutions for communities that display and out-migration culture.
