The High Commission of India, Colombo announced in the month of October 2011 that under the Indian Grant Assistance, 10,000 bicycles would be distributed to the resettled idPs in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka on the basis of need based request originated from the Hon´ble Governor of the Northern Province. The project was conceived as per the priorities identified in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka, with the objective to cater to the transportation needs of persons being resettled and to aid revival of their livelihoods. The total cost of the project is about 67 million Sri Lankan rupees.

By all concerned, great attention was paid in developing appropriate criteria for selection of beneficiaries which include families with school going children, families employed in livelihoods requiring mobility, single or women headed families, families with physically or mentally disabled persons families living in remote areas, etc. The role played by UNHCR in this regard was commendable particularly in handling the logistics of the distribution of bicycles.

Of the 10000 bicycles, 2500 bicycles have been distributed in Mulaitivu District, 2500 bicycles in Kilinochchi District, 1750 bicycles in Mannar District,1750 bicycles in Vavuniya District and 1500 bicycles in Jaffna District.

First lot of 250 bicycles was distributed to idPs when Hon´ble Mr. S.M. Krishna, Minister of External Affairs of India visited Jaffna on 18 January 2012 and the second lot of 150 bicycles was distributed when the Parliamentary delegation led by Opposition leader of Lok Sabha Hon´ble Mrs. Sushma Swaraj visited Mullaitivu on 18.04.2012.5. Another major events of distribution of 98 bicycles were held on 17.06.2012 at Jaffna and 112 bicycles in Kilinochchi in the presence of Hon´ble Douglas Devananda, Minister for Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, Hon´ble Governor G.A. Chandrasiri, Consul General of India, Mr. V. Mahalingam, Hon´ble Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of Parliament Committees M. Chandra Kumar, Mayor of Jaffna Hon´ble Yogeswaray Patgunarajah, Jaffna Additional Government Agent Mrs. Rubini Varathalingam and Mrs. Rupavathi Ketheeswarn Government Agent of Kilinochchi.

Apart from the above, rest of the bicycles have been distributed involving the respective GAs and Divisional Secretaries, UNHCR representatives and officials of CGI, Jaffna on various occasions.

We are pleased to notify that the final distributions of 10000 Bicycles covering all the Five Districts of Northern Province has been completed on 4 March 2013.