IOM, in close cooperation with Australia's Agency for International
Development (AusAID) and the Sri Lankan central and local
government authorities, will today hand over a large auction centre
and multi-purpose storage facility to the Mathagal Rural Fishermen
Organization (MRFO) in the Sandilipay DS Division of Jaffna
District.

The buildings will be used by 700 fishing families from Mathagal
East, West and South registered with six Fishermen's Cooperative
Societies (FCS) to auction their catch and to store their tools and
equipment at their anchoring point. The facility will also provide
an area for engine repairs and maintenance and a place to mend
their nets.

The LKR 5.9 million (USD 55,000) project is part of a 3-year IOM
community stabilisation programme in Sri Lanka's Northern and
Central Provinces funded by AusAID.

"This project is a good example of IOM and the Australian
Government's efforts to sustain the return and socio-economic
development of conflict-affected populations in the Northern
Province through partnering closely with both communities and the
government" said IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission Richard
Danziger.

For more information please contact:

Udara Soysa

IOM Colombo

Tel: + 94 (0) 11 5325300 Ext. 352

E-mail: "mailto:usoysa@iom.int">usoysa@iom.int