http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12/Apr09_1333978887JR.php

Apr 09, Colombo: Women for Rights, a women’s organization in Sri Lanka has called on the government to formulate a programme to re-integrate war widows in the North and East Provinces back to society.

Women for Rights say that the women have been greatly affected by the three decade long war that ended in 2009.

According to the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry there are there are 42,565 war widows in the East and 16,936 in the North, and 12,000 of the widows are below the age of 40.

The organization notes that the issues faced by the women in the North and East need to be addressed with immediate effect and the first would be to initiate a programme to help war widows re-socialize with society.

Head of the organization Attorney Sumana Benaragama and other members said their organization is not merely an NGO, but an organization that fights for women’s rights.

The organization has commenced a leaflet distribution campaign in the North and East to create awareness among the people about the need for a social integration programme for the war widows.

The first in the campaign was held in Vavuniya where the group explained the need to attend to the requirements of the war widows in the North and East.