INTRODUCTION

Federation of Malaysian Sri Lankan Organisations (FOMSO) is a registered organisation in Malaysia with 18 Sri Lankan Associations which have merged to augment their respective roles under an umbrella body for the unification and betterment of the Malaysian Sri Lankan community in particular and all Malaysians in general.

Its primary aim is to co-ordinate, advise and overview the cultural, education, sports , youth and other concerns of the Malaysian Sri Lankan community .  


FOMSO’S ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA

• Started with the tsunami in Dec 2004, where we raised donations in cash and kind and sending 7 containers of food and clothes within days.
• A FOMSO delegation of 7 officials donated 200 bicycles and 200 sewing machines to the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.
• In May 2009, FOMSO launched the Sri Lankan Humanitarian Relief Fund to assist the people affected by the civil war in Sri Lanka and confined in the camps. 

LAUNCH OF THE SRI LANKAN FOMSO SRI LANKA HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FUND

Launched at Kalamandapam, Kuala Lumpur on 4th July 2009 officiated by YB Senator Kohilan Pillay, the Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs followed by another launch in Ipoh on September 13th 2009 officiated by Y Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri V Jeyaratnam. As at 9th November 2009, the result of the fund raising was RM 1.2 Million in cash and kind.
         
  
FOMSO’S HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO SRI LANKA TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR IN VAVUNIYA & JAFFNA

1. An advance team comprising of 2 members, namely Mr Magandran Muthiah and Ms Geetha  
  Rubasundram from 16th August 2009 to 21st August 2009.

The objectives of the team was to visit Manik Farm in Vavuniya & Jaffna and :-

• To ensure that donations sent are reaching the Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs)
• To identify the route to bring in humanitarian aid
• To identify plans and assistance to the IDPs for their rehabilitation and resettlement process.


  
2. A FOMSO delegation comprising 12 members, namely Dato S Kulasegaran, Mr Gnanarajah, Mr Mahalingam, Mr Magandran, Mr Poobalan, Ms Geetha, Mr Jeyasingam, Mr Chakaravarthy, Mr Anthonysamy Francis, Mr Santhirasegaran, Ms Kanageswary & Dr Raj Kumar from 9th November 2009 to 19th November 2009

Their objectives was to visit all the camps in Vavuniya & Jaffna, and 

• To handover Humanitarian Aid directly to the victims of the war in the camps
• To attend the Sri Lankan Diaspora Expatriates Forum 2009 and to handover a Memorandum to His Excellancy, President Mahinda Rajapaksa
• To ascertain further Aid to be undertaken Under Phase 2


Highlights of the 12 member delegation report

Conditions in the Vavuniya camps (Zone 0 & 2 – Manik Farm)

The camps were depressing although the number of IDPs had dwindled to 135,000 from the earlier 280,000. The IDPs crowded around the members of the delegation, each telling of their own experiences, and wanting to know the future for themselves & loved ones, having spent the last 6 months in make shift tents as homes. The children are provided with education which follows Sri Lanka’s national curriculum. 

The general feedback received from the IDPs:-

1. Insufficient firewood for cooking
2. Insufficient supply of vegetables and sugar
3. Water problems
4. Classrooms are overcrowded and the bus services very poor
5. Better nutrition for students
6. More recreational activities
7. No harassment by the security personnel
8. Desire to return to their native land
9. Zone 2 – required better roofing material as the tents leak badly when it rains. 

   
The IDPs are given 3 meals a day, vegetarian mostly except on Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays when they are given fish. One pail of water is given for each IDP. The most common diseases were scabies and dermatitis. The IDPs denied any abuses , whether physical or sexual. The camps in Jaffna are better compared to Vavuniya with proper roof and bigger space. As in Vavuniya, the IDPs expressed their hopes to return home and to carry on with their lives.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR TRIP

Rehabilitation Centre In Punthottam
 
• This centre was specifically for ex-LTTE members aged from 13 to 18 years old, totalling about 600.
• As a means of rehabilitation, the Government is providing them with vocational training such as plumbing, carpentry, masonry, welding, wiring, motor mechanics etc. 
• About 211 of these children have already been transferred to universities and colleges. 
• We identified one girl who had lost her limbs when producing a mine which had exploded in her hands. We will assist her with artificial limbs.

SRI LANKAN DISPLACED PERSONS IN MALAYSIA

Several thousands have left Sri Lanka and have found their way to Malaysia, using it largely as a transit base before finding their homes elsewhere. FOMSO provides the following assistance to them:-

1. Medical Aid
2. Regular distribution of food items for needy families (i.e. rice, sugar , milk, oil, etc)
3. Learning Centre
4. Securing affordable accommodation
5. Self supporting programmes
6. Detained Displaced Persons – providing temporary shelter, food etc
7. Assistance for voluntary repatriation 
8. Counselling and advisory services


FUTURE PLANS

Launch of Phase 2 & Phase 3 Into Sri Lanka Focusing On Resettlement and Rehabilitation:-

• Rebuilding of homes.  
• To educate children, youth & adults in English & Information Technology. 
• To create more IT centres & Infrastructure
• Childcare Development Centre
• Motivational workshop for the ex-LTTE child cadres 
• Fish Forecasting System
• “ Train The Trainer” to provide income to IDP’s who have been trained. 
• Bringing External Displaced Persons / Refugees Back Into Sri Lanka under a Repatriation Programme with adequate Governmental Guarantees against penalties and persecution
• Web portal to bring displaced families together, which will later take on a stronger role for economic and social networking.