Since the 1980s the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been engaged in a violent conflict where thousands of civilans have been killed. Despite a ceasfire being signed in 2002 between the two groups, in the summer of 2006 Sri Lanka has been witness to the worst violence since then, with many people in the north-east part of the island been killed and even more displaced. Today's program is the first in a two part episode looking at the conflict in Sri Lanka. We will speak with Sri Lankan journalist Ponniah Manikavasagam about what is happening right now in Sri Lanka, also we will speak with Rolf Vestvik of the Norweigan Refugee Council about the displaced persons within Sri Lanka and their humanitarian efforts.
PONNIAH MANIKAVASAGM is a Sri Lankan journalist based in the northern city of Vavuniya. He reports for the Tamil language daily Veerakesari, Free Speech Radio News, and the Tamil service of the BBC World Service.
ROLF VESTVIK is the Director of Communications for the Norweigan Refugee Council (NRC). The NRC is specialized in international activities for refugees and displaced persons. The NRC is currently involved with humanitarian work in Sri Lanka.
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY NEWS is a bi-monthly 1 hour radio program produced by members of the south asian community in Montreal, Canada, for community radio CKUT 90.3FM. It is a forum about local and global issues affecting south asians. We are supporters of social justice and will strive to bring you voices from the community.
To send your comments, get involved, or get in touch with the south asian community news collective, email southasia @ ckut . ca
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