Minister of Social Service and Social Welfare said that measures have been taken to conduct counseling service to treat the people affected by the war.

Minister Devananda pointed out that the Ministry will originate this counseling programme in the liberated areas of the North and East to promote mental health of internally displaces people (IDPs). Also it is expected to obtain the service of psychologists to treat people suffering from the fear psychosis due to the war.

Minister Devananda assumed that there was understandable verification that men, women, and IDPs in the liberated

Fifty lorries carrying food and essential items which came under LTTE artillery and motor attack on Thursday (16), while moving towards the non-liberated areas were dispatched yesterday again through the Omanthe entry/exit point.

The convoy was sent to distribute food and essential items among the internally displaced persons in the non liberated areas of Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi districts.

The items were transported with the assistance of the United Nation organization.

A government convoy with food and essential items to the displaced in Mullaittivu had come under artillery and mortar attack by LTTE along the A9 road this afternoon, defence sources said.

According to Defence Ministry website the UN had confirmed the attack.

The government food convoy consisting 50 lorries of food and essential items left the Omnathai Entry/ Exit point at around 12.30p.m. today. The UN envoy was forced to abandon the mission in safety of the crew and food stocks, the sources said.

According to latest information, the food convoy has returned to Vavuniya.

Thirty nine civilians from the Mullivaikkal area in Mullaittivu who reached the liberated areas seeking protection of the security forces in Pulmoddai last morning were directed to IDP centers yesterday (14), the Ministry of Defence said.

The group, which included fourteen women and twelve children, has crossed the Mullaittivu seas on two boats risking their lives.

Continuous LTTE intimidation and the hardships experienced due to the terrorist activities of the Tigers had forced these civilians to seek the protection of the Government, they said.

The government of Australia announced today USD$ 4 million assistance through UNICEF to support more than 600 Sri Lankan schools over the next three years.

The funding will support the 'Child Friendly Schools' Programme, a Ministry of Education and UNICEF initiative to improve access to quality primary education for children. These include children who are marginalised, vulnerable and living with disabilities.

"These funds will benefit as many as 250,000 children and Child Friendly Schools improve learning and increase

A press briefing was held on Friday, 03 October 2008 by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights together with Mr. A.C.M. Razik, Secretary Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services (R&DRS); Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights; Mr. S. B. Divaratne, Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES); Mr. M. S. Jayasinghe, Advisor to the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development (NB&EID) and Dr. B. V. S. Beneragama, Director General Medical Supplies