After three decades of conflict:

Avurudu to be celebrated on grand scale in North

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Cheddikulam welfare centre turned in to a festival ground

Setting up the main stage

It is 'Avurudu' again, resembling new life, a new beginning. And most importantly to a special group of Sri Lankans who now re-organising their lives in the rebuilding North of Sri Lanka. For them this is the first ever new year which they are entirely free to enjoy. For them peace is restored in their lives never to be taken away and prosperity is reaching them slowly but steadily. This Sinhala - Tamil New Year truly means something for their lives.

Most importantly those who saved this piece of land, the Sri Lanka Army still continues their efforts to bring the lost happiness back to these men, women and children of the resettled villages. Living the life does not mean just owning a house or earning money.

It is more of enjoying the happiness and beauty of life and sharing. And that's what Avurudu is all about. Our valiant soldiers are getting ready to bring this dream a reality though they greatly miss their enjoyment with their loved ones.

Identifying their responsibilities in this post-war era the Army deployed in the Northern Province, under the command of Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya have organized various civil affairs activities in order to strengthen the local administrative structure which is still at a growing stage.

Resettled villages

A number of New Year events are organized all over the Northern Province and especially in the resettled villages by the Sri Lanka Army. According to the latest statistics over 193, 607 Internally Displaced Persons are resettled and nearly 80, 500 people are remaining in the Welfare Camps in Cheddikulam, Vavuniya.

More than 28,000 people are moving out of the welfare centre on permission for their personal requirements and visiting relatives.

A mega 'Avurudu' festival is organized for these 25,922 families temporarily living in the Cheddikulam Welfare centres, under the directions of Wanni Security Forces Commander and Competent Authority for IDP Welfare Major General Kamal Gunaratne, on the given authority by the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.

"The Army is organizing this New Year festival and the cultural and musical show to be held on April 11, especially for these Displaced People who are waiting to be resettled in their original villages. It runs through the entire day starting from 6 early morning," Colonel N.K. Wadugodapitiya , Coordinating Officer of the Office of the Competent Authority said explaining the arrangements of the show.

The young men and women get a chance to test their skills and strength in the bicycle race that starts at 6 a.m. on April 11. For the men it is 48 km route starting from the Zone 0 of the Menik Farm, to Cheddikulam junction and to Parayankulam and return to Zone 0. The women's race is of 38 km distance starting from Menik Farm to the Vavuniya - Mannar road and return.

"A private telecommunication company and many well_wishers are assisting us in this effort. The Sri Lanka Youth Council band and dancing troupe are performing in the day time show," said Col. Wadugodapitiya. Starting in the evening the music team of popular Tamil singer K.Sujeewa will perform to entertain the crowd.

The event also includes selecting the 'Avurudu kumari' from the young girls living with their families. Loads of valuable prizes are in line donated by these well-wishers. Games unique to the Avurudu season are scheduled with loads of fun especially for the young crowd.

VIP spectator stand

While the Cheddikulam Avurudu festival is taking place today, the 64 Division of the Sri Lanka Army presently commanded by Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage organized another New Year festival in Oddusudan yesterday under the directions of Major General Athula Jayawardene, Security Forces Commander of Mullaitivu.

Two Grama Niladhari Divisions, namely Oddusudan and Maritimepattu divisions, are being resettled under the ongoing Government resettlement program. Already nearly 7000 people are resettled in both areas. According to Maj.Gen. Jayawardene Army is providing transport to people arriving from Maritimepattu as they will have a difficulty in transportation.

Single mothers

Most of the families are lead by single mothers and majority of the total population are children and elderly people. Most young men between the ages of 18 - 35 are killed in the battle by the LTTE and some are disabled and some of them are undergoing rehabilitation. Thus single parent house holds are more in the resettled communities.

Even during the resettlement program 50-60 ex-LTTE cardres surrendered to the Government and today they are improving their life skills under the rehabilitation program.

With the assistance of the Army troops attached to the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters, nearly 7000 acres of land is to be cultivated under the instructions of Commander of Security Forces Mullaitivu and out of it 1000 acres of land is to be cultivated immediately of which mostly are the paddy fields. Of the Muthiyankattu area, the land is more suitable for highland crops. The Provincial Irrigation Department has fully repaired and restored the Muthiyankattu tank which is now filled with water. Soldiers assist the farmers at all times in their cultivation process and the farmers are preparing the arable lands with the assistance of the Security Forces. The farmers will be receiving the seed paddy and the fertilizer issued by the Government.

The fishing community of the Muthiyankattu area is slowly but steadily resettles in their native lands lying on the bund of the Muthiyankattu tank. The Northern Province Governor's Office has taken many steps to improve the livelihood of all the resettled IDPs. These fishermen depending on the inland fisheries receive a big catch every day and on a perfect day the catch would even reach 500 kilograms that enables them to earn more than Rs. 10,000 on a day. With the assistance of the Army personnel these fishermen send their fish harvest to Vavuniya, daily. In the Mullaitivu district the Army Engineer's have de-mined and cleared 11 Grama Niladari Divisions making them safe and suitable for human habitation, according to Mullaitivu Security Forces Commander. The Army extended their fullest support to the resettlement program that enabled nearly 7000 people to resettle and restart their lives. At the yesterday 'avurudu' festival at Oddusudan the Army provided lunch, tea and all other basic facilities to the entertaining crowd. To assist this effort a Non Governmental Organization is providing milk packets and several other refreshment items for the people, Army said.

Musical show

Other than yesterday's festival at Oddusudan and today's mega cultural and musical show at Cheddikulam, Vavuniya another grand scale festival is organized for the resettled communities of the area by the Sri Lanka Army personnel deployed in Kilinochchi under the command of Kilinochchi Security Forces Commander Major General Chandana Rajaguru. On April 18, the Mannar Area Headquarters in Thalladi have organized a wonderful 'avurudu' festival for the people of Mannar.

And in the newly resettled areas of the 'Rice bowl' of Mannar a New Year festival will be held in Prappakandal on April 17.

Another gala event is organized by the Jaffna Security Forces under the directives of Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe which is to be held in the Jaffna fort.

Thus, starts the traditional new year of Tamil and Sinhala Sri Lankans, everyone equally enjoying the freshness of life, happiness, peace and harmony. Our valiant soldiers are continuing their commitment just by saving the motherland for all its citizens; they will continue to serve, in their usual silence, until peace and harmony they brought for the people is permanently restored not just in the communities but distinctively in the hearts and minds of these people.

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After three decades of conflict:

Avurudhu to be celebrated on grand scale in North

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

It is 'Avurudu' again, resembling new life, a new beginning. And most importantly to a special group of Sri Lankans who now re-organising their lives in the rebuilding North of Sri Lanka. For them this is the first ever new year which they are entirely free to enjoy. For them peace is restored in their lives never to be taken away and prosperity is reaching them slowly but steadily. This Sinhala - Tamil New Year truly means something for their lives.

Most importantly those who saved this piece of land, the Sri Lanka Army still continues their efforts to bring the lost happiness back to these men, women and children of the resettled villages. Living the life does not mean just owning a house or earning money.

It is more of enjoying the happiness and beauty of life and sharing. And that's what Avurudu is all about. Our valiant soldiers are getting ready to bring this dream a reality though they greatly miss their enjoyment with their loved ones.

Identifying their responsibilities in this post-war era the Army deployed in the Northern Province, under the command of Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya have organized various civil affairs activities in order to strengthen the local administrative structure which is still at a growing stage.

Resettled villages

A number of New Year events are organized all over the Northern Province and especially in the resettled villages by the Sri Lanka Army. According to the latest statistics over 193, 607 Internally Displaced Persons are resettled and nearly 80, 500 people are remaining in the Welfare Camps in Cheddikulam, Vavuniya.

More than 28,000 people are moving out of the welfare centre on permission for their personal requirements and visiting relatives.

A mega 'Avurudu' festival is organized for these 25,922 families temporarily living in the Cheddikulam Welfare centres, under the directions of Wanni Security Forces Commander and Competent Authority for IDP Welfare Major General Kamal Gunaratne, on the given authority by the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.

"The Army is organizing this New Year festival and the cultural and musical show to be held on April 11, especially for these Displaced People who are waiting to be resettled in their original villages. It runs through the entire day starting from 6 early morning," Colonel N.K. Wadugodapitiya , Coordinating Officer of the Office of the Competent Authority said explaining the arrangements of the show.

The young men and women get a chance to test their skills and strength in the bicycle race that starts at 6 a.m. on April 11. For the men it is 48 km route starting from the Zone 0 of the Menik Farm, to Cheddikulam junction and to Parayankulam and return to Zone 0. The women's race is of 38 km distance starting from Menik Farm to the Vavuniya - Mannar road and return.

"A private telecommunication company and many well_wishers are assisting us in this effort. The Sri Lanka Youth Council band and dancing troupe are performing in the day time show," said Col. Wadugodapitiya. Starting in the evening the music team of popular Tamil singer K.Sujeewa will perform to entertain the crowd.

The event also includes selecting the 'Avurudu kumari' from the young girls living with their families. Loads of valuable prizes are in line donated by these well-wishers. Games unique to the Avurudu season are scheduled with loads of fun especially for the young crowd.

While the Cheddikulam Avurudu festival is taking place today, the 64 Division of the Sri Lanka Army presently commanded by Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage organized another New Year festival in Oddusudan yesterday under the directions of Major General Athula Jayawardene, Security Forces Commander of Mullaitivu.

Two Grama Niladhari Divisions, namely Oddusudan and Maritimepattu divisions, are being resettled under the ongoing Government resettlement program. Already nearly 7000 people are resettled in both areas. According to Maj.Gen. Jayawardene Army is providing transport to people arriving from Maritimepattu as they will have a difficulty in transportation.

Single mothers

Most of the families are lead by single mothers and majority of the total population are children and elderly people. Most young men between the ages of 18 - 35 are killed in the battle by the LTTE and some are disabled and some of them are undergoing rehabilitation. Thus single parent house holds are more in the resettled communities.

Even during the resettlement program 50-60 ex-LTTE cardres surrendered to the Government and today they are improving their life skills under the rehabilitation program.

With the assistance of the Army troops attached to the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters, nearly 7000 acres of land is to be cultivated under the instructions of Commander of Security Forces Mullaitivu and out of it 1000 acres of land is to be cultivated immediately of which mostly are the paddy fields. Of the Muthiyankattu area, the land is more suitable for highland crops. The Provincial Irrigation Department has fully repaired and restored the Muthiyankattu tank which is now filled with water. Soldiers assist the farmers at all times in their cultivation process and the farmers are preparing the arable lands with the assistance of the Security Forces. The farmers will be receiving the seed paddy and the fertilizer issued by the Government.

The fishing community of the Muthiyankattu area is slowly but steadily resettles in their native lands lying on the bund of the Muthiyankattu tank. The Northern Province Governor's Office has taken many steps to improve the livelihood of all the resettled IDPs. These fishermen depending on the inland fisheries receive a big catch every day and on a perfect day the catch would even reach 500 kilograms that enables them to earn more than Rs. 10,000 on a day. With the assistance of the Army personnel these fishermen send their fish harvest to Vavuniya, daily. In the Mullaitivu district the Army Engineer's have de-mined and cleared 11 Grama Niladari Divisions making them safe and suitable for human habitation, according to Mullaitivu Security Forces Commander. The Army extended their fullest support to the resettlement program that enabled nearly 7000 people to resettle and restart their lives. At the yesterday 'avurudu' festival at Oddusudan the Army provided lunch, tea and all other basic facilities to the entertaining crowd. To assist this effort a Non Governmental Organization is providing milk packets and several other refreshment items for the people, Army said.

Musical show

Other than yesterday's festival at Oddusudan and today's mega cultural and musical show at Cheddikulam, Vavuniya another grand scale festival is organized for the resettled communities of the area by the Sri Lanka Army personnel deployed in Kilinochchi under the command of Kilinochchi Security Forces Commander Major General Chandana Rajaguru. On April 18, the Mannar Area Headquarters in Thalladi have organized a wonderful 'avurudu' festival for the people of Mannar.

And in the newly resettled areas of the 'Rice bowl' of Mannar a New Year festival will be held in Prappakandal on April 17.

Another gala event is organized by the Jaffna Security Forces under the directives of Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe which is to be held in the Jaffna fort.

Thus, starts the traditional new year of Tamil and Sinhala Sri Lankans, everyone equally enjoying the freshness of life, happiness, peace and harmony. Our valiant soldiers are continuing their commitment just by saving the motherland for all its citizens; they will continue to serve, in their usual silence, until peace and harmony they brought for the people is permanently restored not just in the communities but distinctively in the hearts and minds of these people.