1.1. Location and Area
The Vavuniya District is in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. It covers of an area about 196,690.96 Ha (1966.90 Sq km). This consist for 10% of the Land area in the entire North - East Province and 3% of the island.
1.2. Boundaries:
North - Mullaitivu District
South - Anuradhapura District
East - Trincomalee & Anuradhapura Districts
West - Mullaitivu & Mannar Districts
1.3. Administrative Divisions
Administratively this district constitutes part of Wanni Electoral District. This district has 4 Divisional Secretary divisions and covers 102 Grama Niladharies divisions and 505villages. There are 5 Local Bodies functioning in this District. They are one Urban Council and four Pradeshiya Sabhas.
1.4. Climate
The district is categorized under the area’s dry zone of Sri Lanka. The climatological condition are suitable for cultivation.
The District is divided into Agro ecological regions of DDLI, DLI & DL.ld.
1.5. Soil and Ground Water
The soil of the district is highly fertile due to reddish brown earth, low humid clays and alluvial soil. There are concave valleys and bottomlands. Red-Yellow latro soils are found in the Northern part of the district, and that area is more fertile and has better ground water potential. In the other part of the district, there are hard crystalline rocks with limited ground water potential that determine the substrata.
1.6. Land Use
Recent surveys indicated that 38% of the total land is engaged in Agriculture and 47% of the land is forest cover. About 21,000 ha. Land is used for paddy cultivation of which 10,900 ha. is irrigated by Minor Irrigation Schemes. In addition to this there are about 10,000 ha. Under perennial and other crops.
1.7. Demography
This district had a population of 95,425 as per 1981 census of population. No census was taken during 1991 due to unsettled condition. In 2001 census district had a population of 143,940 but this census was not held in the Vavuniya North D.S. Division and part of Vavuniya DS Division. Whole district had an estimated population of 182,957 as at 31.12.2007.
Density of the population including displaced population is 93 persons per Sq.km. high density population is 210 persons per Sq.km in Vavuniya Division.
1.8. Agriculture
This district is predominantly agricultural district and has asweddumized land extent of 21,010 ha. to undertake the paddy cultivation. Details are as follows
§ Major - 5,579
§ Minor - 11,306
§ Rain fed - 4,125
In addition, cultivation of other field crops, livestock farming, forestry and inland fisheries are the main components. 30,092 Farm families are engaged in agricultural related activities. Ten selected special crops recommended by District Agriculture Committee and encourage the farmers to take more attention on them.
1.9. Irrigation
There are one Major, 22 Medium tanks and 674 Minor irrigation tanks including 22 anicuts in this district. The water resources mainly depend on rain fall as there are no perenial rivers. Out of the 674 Minor Irrigation Schemes, 83are abandoned. Under the World Bank Funded Project NEIAP – I improvement to 103 minor schemes were completed by end of 1 April 2005. And also 22 minor tanks were improved under the 10,000 minor tank rehabilitation Programme in year 2004.
1.10. Inland Fisheries
There was an Inland Fisheries Project implemented with UNDP assistance in 2006 in eleven selected tanks which are mainly Seasonal. More consideration to be given to develop Inland Fisheries in this district as potential are there.
1.11. Education:
There are two Educational Zones in this district Vavuniya North and Vavuniya South. Vav. North is divided into 2 divisions viz. Omanthai and Nedunkerny. Vavuniya South also has two educational divisions Vengalacheddikulam and Vavuniya.
The numbers of enrolment in 193 schools in the district are 40,752 students. Total numbers of teachers are 2450. The pupil, teacher’s ratio is 117.
Number of schools functioning in original places – 100
Number of schools functioning in temporary sites/ attached – 86
Number of schools not functioning - 07
Vavuniya Campus of The University of Jaffna, National College of Education and Technical College are main institutions to promote the higher education in Vavuniya District.
a) Vavuniya Campus – University of Jaffna
The Northern Province Affiliated University College was established in Vavuniya in November 1991 and it was upgraded as Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna in 1998 and Bachelors of Arts, Science and Business Administration Degrees and other Extension programs are on going. In the year 2007, 86 students were passed out and students were following these courses.
b) National College of Education
Vavuniya College of Education is a pre-service teachers training college conducting professional teachers diploma courses in different field of studies. The course comprises 02 years residential and 01 year practical in an affiliated school. From the inception of this institution 1739 teachers have passed out and 1278 obtained teaching appointments in the Government schools. At present 758 students are following these courses.
c) Technical College of Vavuniya
The Vavuniya Technical College was set up with limited facilities in the year 2002 and its coverage does not include adequate course curricula to absorb the demand in the District or produce the skilled personnel necessary to meet the demand of the District. At present 18 Courses were commenced in 2006 and 409 students are following in 2007.
1.12. Health:
The GH Vavuniya still remains as the only hospital to provide secondary health care services with limited facilities in the whole Vanni region. it serves about 500,000 population in vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullitivu, and a part of Anuradhapura Districts.
Although the BH Vavuniya was upgraded to the General Hospital status in April 2003, but the service delivery of this hospital is far below the General hospital level. Because of inadequate infrastructure facilities, lack of health staff and inadequate investigation and treatment facilities. The GH is compelled to transfer the patients to Anuradhapura and Colombo hospital for specialized treatment. There is an urgent need to upgrade the service delivery of this hospital and peripheral Health institutions in the District.
1.13. Banks
Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, National Savings Bank, Hatton National Bank, Seylan Bank, Commercial Bank Sampath Bank Sanasa Development Bank, PAN Asia Bank Ltd and Nations Trust Bank Ltd are functioning in this district and which is impetus to the saving capacity of customers and assist the entrepreneurs to obtain loans. State banks and private banks give more consideration to rural entrepreneurs to encourage rural industries.
1.14. Resettlement & Relocation
42 relocation villages have been established since 1995 to 2006 and relocated 3729 families consist 16897 persons. In the year of 2006 Kalnaddinakulam, Kanthasamynagar and Thaddankulam relocation schemes were completed.
After the signing of MOU on 22nd Feb 2002, 7,221 families consisting of 26149 Persons left to their respective districts. 25,898 IDDP families consisting of 102,385 Persons were resettled in this District up to end of December 2007.
1.15. Demining Programme
Planning and Co-ordinating of mine action activities is conducted in Vavuniya in the Govt. Agent’s office with the support of UNDP Technical Advisor for mine action. A District Steering Committee has been established to accelerate plan and implement the programme.
1.16. Vulnerable Groups
Owing to the long standing civil strife numbers of vulnerable people are increasing in this district. Mainly 1677disabled, 4599 widows & 310 orphans are in this district. Vulnerable social groups consists of widows, house holds headed by women, landless labourers , small scale tenant farmers, small scale fishermen etc. Problems and grievances of these groups should be addressed separately from the community. Then only actions could be taken to address their problems and raise their living standards.
