December 2014, Killinochchi District:The Thiruvaiyaru community centre in Kilinochchi District was reconstructed in early 2014 with funding from the Government of Japan. To facilitate the smooth functioning of this important community building, two companies, SEIWA Electric Mfg of Japan and Tos Lanka Co. (Pvt) Ltd have gifted a self-lighting solar lamp to light the exterior compound. The solar lamp is an environmentally friendly lighting solution which has improved the security of the centre users, particularly women, by providing essential lighting during hours of darkness.

The solar lamp was installed by the Thiruvaiyaru Rural Development Society in December 2014. The lamp, powered by solar power, has an automatic lighting system which switches on when dark and switches off when it gets brighter.

The Thiruvaiyaru community center was constructed by the Thiruvaiyaru Rural Development Society through the “Project for Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in Northern Province (RCIF)” implemented by UN-Habitat. In March 2014, the community centre was opened by His Excellency Hobo, Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka. This multi-purpose community centre is now fully operational and used as the venue for village health clinics and houses several government offices. The large hall is used regularly by community members to hold meetings and events.

The RCIF project is a community infrastructure development project, contributing towards the sustainable rehabilitation and reconstruction of the conflict affected Northern Province. Implemented in the districts of Killinochchi and Mullaitivu, key project interventions include the construction of community centres, preschools, internal access roads and storm water drainage systems. UN-Habitat is advocating the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable construction practices in all its project interventions.

The donors of the solar lamp, Tos Lanka, was incorporated in 1995 as an expansion programme of Tosslec Ltd in Kyoto, Japan, while SEIWA ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD  is a Japanese company working with Tosslec for more than 20 years. The solar lamp has been produced by SEIWA ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD and is expected to function maintenance-free for more than 20 years.