THE first Psychosocial Centre in the newly resettled areas in the Northern Province, a long-felt need for addressing issues, related to mental well-being of children in war-affected areas, was recently opened at Mallavi Central College, Thunukkai in the Mullaitivu District by Maj. General Kamal Gunaratne, Commander, Security Force Wanni & Competent Authority for IDPs.
 
This purpose-built Centre for psychosocial activities at Mallavi Central College was sponsored by True Volunteer Foundation, based in the UK and facilitated by the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Unit, as a part of the on-going programme for Mental Health.

Recognizing the dire need to address the mental wellbeing of children in the war affected areas, the centre will be the first in a series of such centres proposed to be set up in the North and East provinces, which will provide a safe and secure environment for children to play, recreate and learn, brining out their creativity and talents to the fore.

Aptly named as “Mahilchi Illam” (Happiness Centre), the Centre is fully equipped with materials for arts and crafts, books, musical instruments, games and toys, DVD library, sports equipment, etc. which will provide the children ample opportunity to explore their creativity and talents and forget traumatic experiences of the past. 

As a part of the programme, a Computer centre was also established in the school, brining IT to the village where children would be initiated into technology, as a part of bridging the digital divide.

“The Army’s primary role is to protect the country and its people and we have already done that and the secondary role is to assist in nation building”, said Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Commander, Security Forces, Wanni, speaking to the audience during the opening ceremony and added that as a part of nation building, the Sri Lanka Army fully supports this type of initiative which promotes the wellbeing of children who are the future of our country. 

Under the direction of Major General Gunaratne, Sri Lanka Army provided skilled labour in renovation and restoration of the buildings at Mallavi Central College, as a part of their contribution to the resettlement programme of the IDPs.
 
Mrs. Imelda Sukumar, District Secretary, Mullaittivu, speaking on the occasion also stressed on the importance of psychosocial activities as a critical part of the resettlement programme, and pledged her full support to this initiative of establishing school based psychosocial centres for the children in the newly resettled areas in the North and Eastern provinces.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Dr A.S.A Safras, Coordinator for Resettlement and Rehabilitation of North, introduced the programme as a continuation of psychosocial activities which were carried out at the IDP camps in the last 6 months by Mrs Manori Unambuwe and  Back To Life (a CSR Arm of NKAR Travels ) where positive  effects of psychosocial activities were seen.
 
Mr. T. Meganathan, Director of Education, Thunukkai Zone and the Principal at Mallavi Central College, Mr T. Jesuthananthar also welcomed the establishment of the Centre and was confident that the Centre would provide the much-needed support to the children who are trying to  re-establish their lives and recommence childhood.
 
Speaking to the media, Ms Manori Unambuwe,  Assistant General Manager, Marketing at Just in Time Holdings Ltd.,  who has been carrying out many psychosocial activities for the children in the IDP camps in the past several months, thanked Mr. Michael Padmanathan and True Volunteer Foundation, for coming forward to sponsor the Centre at Mallavi and said her vision was to establish a psychosocial centre in every school in the North and East with the support of generous donors who have already pledged support and the next couple of centers were  identified at  schools in Nandikandal and Pooneryn.