Promoting ecological conservation and climate justice through the active involvement of local communities in 13 Dioceses and advocate & lobby for the dignity of the plantation communities who are commemorating 200 years of their arrival to the country in 2020s.
Caritas Sri Lanka proudly launched 02 essential research books in the context of the plantation community in Sri Lanka on 3rd October 2024 at CSL-SEDEC under the ‘Lighting the Lives of the Plantation People (LLPP) project. Ecological Conservation and Plantation People (ECPP) Unit has been implementing projects that underscore Caritas Sri Lanka’s commitments towards environmental stewardship…
This year (2023) marks the completion of two hundred years of existence of the upcountry Tamil people or Malaiyaha Tamils in Sri Lanka. It is assumed that the upcountry Tamil people were brought from India by the British colonial regime in 1823 to be employed in the coffee plantations in the upcountry area of the…
The study focuses on the most pressing contemporary concerns concerning the culture and identity of Indian-Origin Tamils (IOTs) in Sri Lanka. During 1823, migrated Indian Tamils created a new socioeconomic group in the country and formed as were forced to focus primarily on the plantation sector, which had been developed by the British to gain…
On the 31st of July 2024, a significant press conference was held at Caritas SETIK in Kandy, addressing the issues faced by the plantation community. This was organized by the Caritas Sri Lanka ECPP unit under the LLPP (Lighting the Lives of the Plantation People Project) funded by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the event…
The CSO Forum under the “Lighting the Lives of the Plantation People” (LLPP) project, funded by CRS – Catholic Relief Services, was held on 30th July 2024 at the scenic Tea Small Holdings Development Authority Training Centre in Hanthana, Kandy. This gathering brought together representatives from Kandy, Badulla, Ratnapura, Galle, Kurunegala, and Colombo DCs along…
On the 27th of June, the ECPP unit of Caritas Sri Lanka, under the LLPP project, conducted a significant research validation session at the CSL Conference Hall. This research focused on the culture and identity of the plantation community in selected districts. Expert academics and professionals attended the event, providing valuable insights and critiques to…
On June 5th, 2024, communities across various dioceses came together to celebrate World Environment Day, a globally recognized event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action to protect our planet. The main objective of this day is to educate the public about environmental issues and inspire positive change. This year, the celebrations were held in…
From May 14th to 19th, 2024, an Agro ecological Farmers’ Exchange Visit was arranged to the farmlands in Anuradhapura and Mannar, Sri Lanka. There were 12 farmers representing Caritas Bangladesh and UBINIG, Bangladesh and Mada, Lebanon. This visit was Co-hosted by Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC and MONLAR, and funded by CAFOD, UK. The main objective…
Caritas Sri Lanka in collaboration with the resources of USAID, Clean City Blue Ocean Organization conducted two Training of Trainers (TOT) programs at Kandy and Jaffna. Sixty participants participated in the TOT held on 20th & 21st of October 2023 at Kandy representing Kandy, Badulla, Galle and Ratnapura Dioceses while another 70 participants participated in…
Waste management is a critical issue in Sri Lanka, with improper disposal causing environmental degradation and health hazards. To address this concern, Caritas Sri Lanka, in collaboration with USAID Clean Cities Blue Oceans (CCBO), is taking a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable Sri Lanka through the project: Stepping Stone to Safeguarding Sri…
Caritas Sri Lanka organized a capacity-building workshop on advocacy and lobbying for both its National Center staff and diocesan-level staff. The workshop took place on September 11th and 12th at the CSL-SEDEC auditorium, with 65 participants from the Diocesan Centers and the National Center. The workshop was conducted in both Sinhala and Tamil mediums, with…
Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC successfully organized an impactful workshop on September 15, 2023, aimed at enhancing the partnering capabilities of their Diocesan Project Coordinators and National Coordinators (NC) staff. The event, held at the SEDEC Auditorium in Colombo, brought together a diverse group of dedicated professionals eager to develop and refine their partnering skills. The…
In a significant press conference held at Caritas Sri Lanka, SEDEC, on June 30th, 2023, the Catholic Bishops of the Plantation Regions united their voices to address the longstanding unresolved socioeconomic issues faced by the Indian Origin Plantation Community in Sri Lanka. The press conference marked the 200th commemoration of the arrival of the Indian…
The arrival of the first batch of Indian Origin Tamil Speaking workers took place from 1823 to 1824 as per historical evidences. These Indian Origin Tamil Speaking workers were brought from South India under a system of bonded labor by colonial rulers. Their purpose was to provide labor for the coffee plantations. These people had walked…
Introduction World Environmental day is celebrated globally on 5th June from 1973. The day provides a platform for environmental activists to voice their concerns and highlight the negative impacts of global environmental issues to the global community. In that line, the theme for World Environmental Day 2023 focuses on ‘Solution for Plastic Pollution’ under…
An awareness session was conducted at the National Seminary in Kandy on 12th of May 2023 with the objective of enlightening the major seminary brothers and the staff regarding the social issues and structural discrimination faced by the plantation community in Sri Lanka for the past 200 years. Rev. Fr. Michael Rajendram, National Animator for the…
“Humanity still has the ability to work together to build our common home” – Pope Francis- Introduction Water is one of the most important basic natural elements on which the planet Earth is comprised of, as it constitutes 71% of the land area. In addition, water is recognized as the giver and the source of…
Thammittagama Village is situated in the Kurunegala District in Sri Lanka. A Village level environmental adult group was formed in the village under the ‘Stepping Stones to Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment project’ (SSEP), implemented by Caritas Sri Lanka in early 2023. After several discussions with the villagers, a serious issue which affects them badly…
Caritas Sri Lanka (CSL) organized an Environmental Management and Leadership Program for the youth in the Diocese of Chilaw under the “Stepping Stone to Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment project” (SSEP). SSEP is a project implemented by Caritas Sri Lanka with the goal of creating an environmentally conscious community through advocating and lobbying against all…
The Facebook page, “Lighting the lives of the Plantation People” (LLPP) was launched on 25 October 2022 by Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC. The arrival of the first batch of Indian Origin Tamil Speaking workers took place from 1823 to 1824. They were brought in from South India as labourers by the British to work on…
