The plight of the displaced people following the military offensive in Batticaloa is very pathetic. The educational activities in the area and the education of the students are completely paralyzed.

It is reported that about 3000 students are unable to attend schools. It is unfortunate that when the exams for the grade 1 are conducted in schools all over the country, the refugee students are denied their right to education and have to seek relief in refugee camps.

It is estimated that around 150,000 people have been displaced from their homes and have been living in refugee camps for more than 2 weeks facing several problems including procurement of food. NGOs reveal that health services in the refugee camps are quite unsatisfactory. It is also complained that the relief dispatched by the government to the refugees is inadequate.

How long can these people liv in refugee camps in such unsatisfactory environment .The Tamil medium students have been facing numerous problems since the beginning of the war. The displaced people must be able to return to their homes and to be resettled without any further delay. Their problem is a humanitarian problem. Their sorry plight is a human tragedy.

If this plight of the displaced people in refugee camps is allowed to continue, the students who are denied education, who are deprived of access to their studies, may lose interest in education. These refugee students are liable to go astray causing great concern to the parents, teachers, educationists and the country at large.

We reiterate that steps should be taken at least to ensure the studies of the refugee children!.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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