Working with civil societies
This Regional Office had worked closely with civil organizations and those organizations have
often requested to intervene incollecting information on missing persons
re-vesting of houses to those substantiate their title
re-settlement
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Mobile Office-Puttlam
The province of North-West include Kurunegala and Puttlam Districts. A regional office of the
Human Rights Commission was not situated in those districts. Therefore, in order to lesson
difficulties faced by people of Puttlam district compelling them to visit the Head-Office seeking
redress, a Mobile Office was established in the Puttlam district.
There are 16 Divisional Secretariats and 548 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Puttlam district.
According to the Provincial Administration Plan, the district encompasses 2 Municipal Council and
24 local government bodies. In addition, it also has 15 police stations.
This mobile office is open for the public every Thursday. An investigation Officer attached to the
Head-Office coordinates activities of this mobile service. The mobile office is located in the old
Municipality Building in Puttlam. A meeting was held in October 2013 to mark inauguration of
official activities. Religious leaders representing all religions, community leaders, NGOs and public
servants were invited for the event.
This mobile office received 126 complaints within the year. They dealt with issues relating to
promotions, transfers and confirmation of public servants, omissions committed by local
authorities, children leaving schools, domestic violence, land matters & omissions and torture
committed by the police.
Intervention of the Commission by way of referring certain matters to relevant institutions where
complainers were able to gain redress and holding discussions with relevant authorities, made
resolving such matters possible.
The IDPs of the Northern Province have been living in the district of Puttlam for a considerable
period of time. Since there is a necessity to deal with socio-economic and political issues by
looking at them through a ‘human right lens’ and through negotiations and to create religious
reconciliation within this district where multi-ethnic community is living, the Commission has, by
experience gained in the year 2013, decided to prepare plans to achieve that objectives.
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