Govt. to provide psychosocial support for conflict-affected
Saturday, 12 April 2014 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lankan Government will soon launch a coordinated and comprehensive approach to provide psychosocial support and counselling for conflict-affected people in the north and east.
At a meeting held with stakeholder ministries, the Chairman of the Committee Monitoring the implementation of LLRC Recommendations and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has emphasised the importance of adopting a holistic and coordinated approach, linking all programs currently carried out by government ministries, for creating greater efficiency in the provision of counselling and psychosocial support.
The National Plan of Action (NPoA) monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) lists several recommendations and activities to address social, economic and mental health needs of vulnerable groups in the former theatre of conflict. These include women-headed households, children and the elderly affected by the war, and disabled persons.
A number of ministries, including the Ministry of Social Services, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs are implementing counselling programs, livelihood development programs and housing programs for these target groups.
Discussions at the meeting centered on the current psychosocial support and counselling programs carried out by various ministries, capacity building for counselling and the evolving of a mechanism to improve support delivery covering all target groups.
Vice-Chairperson of the Committee Monitoring LLRC Recommendations and Secretary of the Ministry of Technology and Research Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs Eric Illayapparachchi, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Services Emelda Sukumar and representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and Ministry of Law and Order attended the meeting. (Colombopage)
