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.
An awareness session for clergy of the Diocese of Kandy was conducted on 4th of April 2023 at the Fatima Retreat House Lewella, Kandy with the aim of highlighting the social issues of the Plantation community and the mission of the church leaders in addressing the causes of structural discrimination that the plantation community (Malaiyaga…
A discussion was held on 16th of March 2023 at the Caritas Sri Lanka, SEDEC Auditorium to seek support and collaborations from the Colombo based media institutions, to highlight the issues faced by the plantation communities in Sri Lanka. In 2023/24, Sri Lankans would remember and commemorate the 200 years of arrival of the plantation community…
Validation of the research on Challenges and Future Directions of Children’s Education Rights in Plantation Communities of Sri Lanka was held on 9th of March from 2.00pm to 5.00pm at the Caritas SEDEC upper conference Hall. The research is one of the major activities under the “Lighting the Lives of Plantation People” Program (LLPP) with…
Three Village Level Environmental Children’s Groups (VLECGs) were formed in selected villages under SSEP in Mannar District. A group of 155 children from VLECGs were taken for an educational exposure tour on 13th February 2023. The main objective of this exposure visit is to educate children about natural resources and the importance of conserving natural…
Climate change is an inherent social issue that can upset anyone’s life in countless ways. Climate change is causing different social, economic, and public health issues on all the communities around the world. Therefore, advocating for climate justice by the local communities is the most essential solution to this worsening scenario. On that note, ‘Stepping…
“Stepping Stone to Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment” (SSEP) is a project implemented by Caritas Sri Lanka in all its 13 DCs from January 2022. It is a three-year project funded by Misereor with the goal of forming environmental sensitive empowered communities. The project will assist the selected communities who face the effects of environmental…
Formation of Governing Body of the National Civil Society Organization Forum was held on the 11th of February 2023 at Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC Auditorium. This event was held in connection with the creation of CSO forums in the first year in all the five Plantation Dioceses such as Kandy, Badulla, Ratnapura, Galle and Colombo.…
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Brian Udaigwe, the Apostolic Nunciature and the diplomatic mission of the Holy See (Vatican) to Sri Lanka handed over the medicines to Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health today on Friday, the 13th of January 2023 with the presence of directors and officers…
An awareness session for the major Religious Superiors of the CMRS on the social issues of the plantation community in Sri Lanka was held Monday 28 November, 2022 at the Good shepherd Vocational Training Centre at Bolawalana in Negombo. Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson, Director of Caritas Sri Lanka- SEDEC (CSL) delivered a speech on plight of plantation community…
“There is so much indifference in the face of suffering, May we overcome indifference with concrete acts of charity” – Pope Francis Background Sri Lanka is currently going through the worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. Years of economic mismanagement, corruption, short-sighted policy making, and overall lack of good governance left Sri Lanka…
The Executive Director of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Mr. Senthil Kumar visited CODESEP ( Community Development Service for Plantation) in the Ratnapura Dioceses on a fact-finding mission from 5th and 6th December 2022. Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson , Director, Caritas Sri Lanka , Rev. Fr Lasantha Fonseka, Director ,Caritas Sed Galle and Rev. Fr. Anthony…
Mangrove forests are unique eco-systems that have ecological, biological, and socio-economic functions. These types of plants play a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium of the eco-system and ensure the stability of our world. Mangroves are nature’s fundamental barrier against soil erosion, an ideal place for sea plant growth, and a refuge for fish, and…
Mandaitivu Maha Vidyalayam is a government secondary school located in Jaffna District. There are 200-250 students studying in the school. Under the ‘Stepping Stone to Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment’ (SSEP) project by Caritas- HUDEC Jaffna an Environmental Children’s Group was formed in this school. However, the students faced severe drinking water problems here since…
The SSEP Annual and Project design meetings were held on the 5th and 6th of December 2022 at the St. Jhon Mary Vianney Clergy house, Bulutota, with the participation of 45 project coordinators and field officers. In addition, a few Diocesan Directors from Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala and Rathnapura were also present during the two-day…
Caritas Chilaw and Colombo celebrated the World Children’s day 2022 with the Environmental Children Groups that they have formed under ‘Stepping stone to safe guarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment’ project, (SSEP). Colombo Caritas Colombo Seth Sarana celebrated the Children’s day 2022 at Muturajawela on 01st of October 2022. A group of 120 children from Moratuwa,…
An environmental advocacy related workshop was organized by Caritas Sri Lanka with the active collaboration of Caritas Sethmini Ratnapura under the Stepping Stone to Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Natural Environment (SSEP) project. This workshop was held on 4th October 2022 at Caritas Sethmini Ratnapura. The SSEP team from National Centre and the staffs from Colombo, Chilaw,…
Information Sharing Sessions among JournalistsTwo separate Information Sharing Sessions for the Journalists of Mass media were conducted by CARITAS SRI LANKA – in Tamil stream on the 1st June at Nuwara Eliya Parish Pastoral Centre and in Sinhala stream at SED Galle Centre on the 8th June 2022. The Media personals from the Plantation Dioceses of…
Caritas Sri Lanka (CSL) conducted a major cleanup and tree planting Campaign Island wide to commemorate the World Environment Day on 05th of June 2022. Around 2000 adults, youth and children participated in these events. The 2022 World Environment Day campaign under the theme, “Only One Earth” calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale…
The Plantation Community in Sri Lanka mainly consists of the Indian Origin Tamils who are presently known as the ‘Malayaga Tamils” meaning Upcountry Tamils. As per the historical evidence, the arrival of the 1st batch of Indian Origin Tamil Speaking workers happened from 1823 to 1824, thus making 2023/2024 as the 200th years of their…
Caritas Badulla- USCOD organized a tree-planting campaign at Kahagalla, Haputale on 26 March 2022 under the Stepping Stone Environment Project implemented with the support of the funding partner, ‘MISEREOR’ The tree-planting campaign was organized by the Village Level Children Group (VLCG) with the support and coordination of the Village Level Elders Group (VLEG) formed under…
