Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

A group of 79 war widows from Mannar and Anuradhapura dioceses gathered in Sevanapitiya, Polonnaruwa on 18th & 19th August for a solidarity- building program. This was a follow-up to a similar program held last year where around 40 widows shared their experiences.

The SEDEC Women's Desk, in coordination with Caritas Anuradhapura Sethsaviya, arranged the current encounter which was held in the premises of the Borawewa Sanghabodhi Buddhist temple with the blessings of the Chief Incumbent Ven. Galkandage Dhammatileke Thero who also participated in some of the sessions. The 2-day program was facilitated by Mr Siyon de Alwis as resource person.

The Tamil visitors from Mannar were welcomed and accommodated by the Sinhalese host families of Borawewa and Nelumwewa villages in their own homes and not only provided with food but also with some gifts which had been prepared for them. The visitors mingled freely with their hosts and language was not at all a barrier though they knew only little or nothing of each other's mother tongue.

Among the variety of issues that were discussed during the 2-day meeting was the subject of human trafficking which is one of the social evils regarding which Caritas is already conducting an awareness campaign.