SCOPP to close down

Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) will permanently close down with effect from July 31 and different units under it will be operated through line ministries, its Secretary General Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha said.

"SCOOP being a facilitator for peace process in Sri Lanka, had several departments playing different important roles during the war times. With the ending of the war we will wrap up the office at BMICH on July 31," he said.

Prof. Wijesinha said that once they close the office they will possibly work through Ministries and also will publish a monthly and a six month magazine. Further,its employees will probably join other firms and the relevant ministries, he said.

SCOOP had six departments under its management, namely, economic affairs, policy making, social affairs, out reach unit, legal and IDP unit. They will possibly work through relevant line ministries because from its inception it did not have powers to implement anything, he said.

He also said that condition of IDPs in camps are getting better day by day and the Government is spending a colossal some to maintain them and to improve their living condition by providing food, clean water and other hygienic facilities. At present nearly 300,000 people are in IDP camps. A community center for every 5,000 persons will be constructed with the initiative of UNHCR, he said.

Prof. Wijesinha said a total of 9,500 LTTE cadres are being held, having either surrendered or been identified by the Security Forces and women had been separated from men and these people will be rehabilitated so that they can live normal life. Vocational training and English and Sinhala teaching programs will be started for young children, he said.