Mine Risk Education Project

In December 2002 CTF signed an MoU with the Mines Awareness Trust to provide training and funding for 33 new CTF staff in mine risk education and awareness raising. The combination of the continuing ceasefire in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan government policy has meant that thousands of IDPs are starting to return and (re)settle in areas in the Northern Provinces. However, vast areas of land were heavily mined by both the LTTE and government armed forces during the conflict and although concerted efforts are currently being made on all sides to identify and remove the mines or UXOs, thousands remain undetected thus rendering areas too unsafe to return to.

Once trained the staff will work in the IDP camps of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka implementing and co-ordinating mine awareness and safe practice programmes. In addition they will advise those who are returning home or who are already living in uncleared areas. The teams will also be trained in reporting unexploded mines to specialist clearance teams.

Although CTF has been working with displaced people for many years, it has no direct experience of this particular issue. However, the training provided by the MAT will enable CTF to work more closely with those returning to their homelands as well as increase local capacity to deal with this issue. For more details please contact: M. T. A Kalam at CTF

In December 2002 CTF signed an MoU with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board for the implementation of a water and sanitation programme in the Puttalam District.The Asian Development Bank provides funding for the improvement of rural water supplies and sanitation equipment through the Water Board in Sri Lanka with its implementing partners. CTF as a partner in this project is providing social mobilisation of the community by implementing the following activities:

• Formation and strengthening of community based organisations (CBOs)

• Awareness raising programmes on public health, hygiene  and sanitation issues 

To implement this project CTF has recruited extra staff and opened a new project office in the Puttalam District. The first phrase of the programme will be for 8 months.

For more details please contact P. Razeek at CTF at [email protected]

         For copies of the

         CTF Annual Report 2002

        CTF Leaflet 2003

     CTF Strategy Plan 2003-2005

           Please contact CTF on: 

          [email protected]