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| Monday, 10 June 2002 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera Public rallies to bring legal aid work to the poor and enhance their legal literacy were held in Mannar, Puttalam and Kalpitiya recently. Similar rallies will be held in Anuradhapura and Mihintale on June 13, said the Chairman of the Legal Aid Foundation S. S. Wijeratne. In Anuradhapura, the Legal Aid Office will be opened on June 12 at the High Court's Complex with the legal aid coordinators Asoka Mahadivulwewa and Mahinda Bulankulame. The Mannar rally organised by M. Jabarullah, attorney at law and Coordinator in Mannar for UNHCR-BASL Project, to provide legal assistance to the war affected persons in the region. The LAF Office was opened in Mannar Courts Complex. This office will serve the legal needs of the internally displaced persons, returnees in Mannar District. Similar rallies were organised in Puttalam and Kalpitiya by A.M. Kamarudeen, attorney at law and project coordinator for Puttalam. At the Anuradhapura rally a team of lawyers headed by Chairman Legal Aid Foundation (LAF) S. S. Wijeratne will conduct an awareness program on development of legal aid projects launched by the LAF. The Internally Displaced Persons and the War Affected Persons programs will be coordinated by Miss Sumana Beneragama. Legal issues related to IDP, such as securing ID cards,birth certificates,exit permits, recovery of land and property as well as family law matters arising out of displacement would be discussed under this project, Miss Beneragama said. Fundamental Rights violations will be conducted by G. Wimalasiri. All aspects of FR violations would be discussed by the lawyers of the Human Rights Centre of the BASL and will distribute draft petitions that may be sent by the victims seeking redress from the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman. Miss Roshanthi de Mel will discuss the legal needs of migrant women workers prior to departure in relation to contracts with employment agencies and overseas legal assistance that may be given as well as violation of their basic rights, such as hours of work, medical benefits. The subject Victims of Crimes will be discussed by a team led by Ms. Hemamali Amerasinghe. The legal representation for needy is available to victims of crimes through the National Centre for Victims of crimes of the BASL which also include witness protection assistance, recovery of stolen property and proper compensation for loss due and all other relevant information to restore the dignity of the victims of crimes. Destitute Elder, Coordinator will be Miss Piyumi Kumari - The LAF provides free legal services to destitute elders in collaboration with the National Council for Elders set up under the provisions of Elders Act. 9 of 2000. The issues relating to pensions, recovery of loans, eviction from property, drafting of legal documents and all related legal matters affecting the elders would be discussed and follow up action will be taken. The relevant documentation including explanatory pamphlets in all three languages as well as draft affidavits that may be forwarded to the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman would be distributed to the participants at these legal aid meetings. These public awareness rallies are organised with the assistance of the Divisional Secretariat, Grama Sevakas and the Police, Mr. Wijeratne said. The LAF Chairman said that the rallies would be followed by legal aid clinics, where individual problems of the participants will be discussed and legal counselling rendered and wherever necessary steps will be taken to initiate action in courts by the lawyers from Colombo and the respective members of the Bar. Follow up action would be taken, if there is any burning issue, both by the district lawyers at district level and the LAF Colombo. |
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