The second term of most schools began yesterday. Here, girls at Ratnavali Balika MV, Borella, prepare to greet their teachers for the New Year

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Children shot and injured by LTTE in Batticaloa

Two children and a jail employee were reported injured when a LTTE cadre opened fire at the chief trustee of Aanaipanthi Chinna Pillaiyaar Temple in Batticaloa town, rebel sources claimed.

Mr. Mathiyalahan, the chief trustee of the Aanaipanthi Chinna Pillaiyaar temple and a well respected figure in Batticaloa who had stood firm against the human rights violation of Batticaloa people by LTTE was fatally wounded by the shooting, sources further stated.

NUA drops bombshell, Opposes proposed joint mechanism

The Government's main Muslim ally, National Unity Alliance dropped a bombshell when it too objected to the establishment of a joint mechanism. NUA Leader Ferial Ashraff emphasized to the Norwegian facilitators that she saw no reason for her community to sit together with the LTTE.

During a meeting with Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim on Friday, Ms. Ashraff said there was no compelling reason for the Muslims to share a joint mechanism with the LTTE. She said if the structure was established, the LTTE would have the 'lion's share', and thus the Muslims would be placed in a precarious position in this mechanism.

"The LTTE has upto date failed to even extend its hand of goodwill to the evicted Northern Muslims, and thus it is very unlikely that the Muslims would be given its fair share in this mechanism," she is reported to have said.

Mrs. Ashraff, who is also a senior Cabinet Minister had informed Solheim and the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar that there was no need for a joint mechanism to ensure fair distribution of aid, etc. "We will continue to do our development work in our area, and they should do their work in their area," she said.

She had also emphasized that unlike the tsunami victims, the Muslims who were evicted by the LTTE from North face a much more uncertain situation. "At least the tsunami victims can build temporary huts in the same area where their houses had been, but the evicted Northern Muslims cannot do that because the LTTE does not allow them to come back to their homes," Ms. Ashraff had pointed out.

The NUA shock comes in the wake of a written assurance given by President Chandrika Kumaratunga that she would consult the Muslim community before finalising any deal on the proposed mechanism.

"I share your concern that the interest of Muslim people be taken into consideration on any proposed mechanism to coordinate post-tsunami relief and reconstruction. I will meet the Muslim Peace Secretariat prior to concluding any agreement on post-tsunami relief and reconstruction," the President said in the letter addressed to the Head of the Muslim Peace Secretariat Javid Yusuf, copies of which were sent to Minister Ferial Ashraff and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem.

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Doctors explore possibility of surgery for Siamese twins

The conjoined female twins born at De Zoysa Hospital, Colombo were transferred to the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital to explore the possibility of separating them, health authorities said.

Doctors say these twins are conjoined from the thorax and abdomen. "They are conjoined from the chest and tummy," added a medical officer.

These conjoined twins were born on April 21 at the De Zoysa Hospital, Colombo. The parents of these infants are Tharaka Sanjeewa and Priyadarshani Yapa from Mabima. Hospital authorities said consultant surgeon Ranjan Dias is treating these twins and exploring the possibility of surgery. Doctors claim that these infants will be required to remain at the hospital for the next six months for further treatment.

A hospital spokesman said the twins are now in good health and also that they are taking every possible measure to save the twins' lives.

Red Cross/Red Crescent continues to provide valuable support to tsunami affected people

Four months since the tsunami, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement assistance to vulnerable families remains crucial.

Anti malaria campaign

At the request of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation), in cooperation with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), are distributing treated mosquito nets across Ampara district to tsunami affected and indirectly affected families, as part of a nation wide anti malaria campaign.

Ampara has one of the highest incidence rates of malaria in Sri Lanka, and bed nets, if used properly, provides simple but effective prevention against this deadly disease. "Malaria is not very hard to prevent if people have the basic information ... a mosquito net could save a life," said Jeff Chinn, Federation/American Red Cross relief team member.

As the rainy season approaches and the risk of vector borne diseases increases, distribution of mosquito nets becomes more essential. Since the tsunami struck, Sri Lanka Red Cross and the Federation have distributed over 66,000 nets in Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ampara.

This distribution is just a small but vital part of the Red Cross/Red Crescent work that aims to improve the lives of vulnerable people in all areas of Sri Lanka. Post tsunami operation

Currently, post tsunami operations comprise a major part of this work. Support ranges from distributions of basic household items' - mosquito nets, bed sheets, kerosene stoves - to provision of shelter, health and psychosocial care and complex water purification and sanitation systems, and construction of houses and health facilities.

Over 4,000 Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRCS) volunteers are working up and down the coastline, with support from international technical experts, to improve daily living conditions in the areas where the tsunami struck hardest.

SLRCS and the Federation's American Relief ERU have conducted distributions of basic household items for over 300,000 people in the south and south east of the country since the tsunami struck; the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has delivered more than 35,000 family kits and thousands more clothes, blankets and lamps in the north and east.

More than 20 Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies from around the world are also active in Sri Lanka providing material and expertise to those affected by the disaster to help reestablish their livelihoods, and financial support for the relief operation has been received from a further 50 national societies.

Health support is also being offered to the affected population - the Red Cross Crescent Movement is supporting affected people through provision of first aid, hospital facilities, mobile clinics, psychosocial support and health education.

SLRCS and the Federation have undertaken to reconstruct, renovate, repair and equip 34 health facilities, including general, base, district and rural hospitals, central dispensaries and nurse training centres.

The RC/RC Movement is providing shelter to displaced families, and has distributed more than 50,000 tents, tarpaulins and plastic sheeting to families along the coastline. SLRCS, the Federation and other RC/RC Societies have committed to build 15,000 houses in Sri Lanka in Colombo, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Kalutara and Gampaha.

Water and sanitation systems have been repaired, upgraded and constructed in affected areas, and the RC/RC Movement is providing over 250,000 litres of clean drinking water daily in Ampara district alone.

The bigger picture

While relief efforts along the coastline continue, the RC/RC Movement focus remains on empowering vulnerable people across the country.

Long term SLRCS programs running in areas directly and indirectly affected by the tsunami include first aid, primary health care, HIV/AIDS prevention and community based disaster preparedness.

"Sri Lanka Red Cross was first on the scene providing post tsunami emergency help at the grassroots level," says Alasdair Gordon Gibson, head of the International Federation delegation in Sri Lanka. "We are providing broad based support that extends beyond tsunami affected areas and will strengthen vulnerable communities countryside.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.