Caritas Sri Lanka is using different strategies to empower the social and economic wellbeing of the poor and marginalized people in Sri Lanka. The Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Unit of Caritas has been established to promote sustainable agriculture to ensure food security for poor and marginalized populations by aiming to create food access, availability, utilization, and stability. Through this integrated approach, the following three main outcomes are expected to be achieved through our work: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.
A capacity Building excursion on the Village Knowledge Centers(VKCs) and Village Resource centers of MS Swaminathan Foundation (MSSRF), India was organized on June 16-21, 2023, from the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security unit, under the Project “Addressing Causes for Poverty and Ensuring Food Security for Farming Communities” of Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC. There were…
Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) are community-focussed to address the needs of the community through various information technologies and innovative ways. VKCs are village-level community institutions located in common places, enabling farmers to access all their knowledge requirements in the village. The concept addresses the strong disconnect between farmers and knowledge holders underpinning the need for…
Caritas Sri Lanka encourages small-holder farmers to ameliorate their capacity and attentiveness to be resilient to food insecurity over a decade. Caritas Norway / NORAD-funded Food Security Program is being a pillar of strength for the communities to enhance the self-sufficient family economy at the grassroots level. Recently the CSL team visited random target locations…
We experience conflict in every stage of our life. The ability to resolve conflicts with one another is a critical life skill, especially in today’s disruptive society. Looking for ways to resolve a conflict that meets the needs of both parties is challenging. Taking this matter into consideration, Caritas Sri Lanka –SEDEC jointly with Caritas Chilaw organized…
“Fish” contribute significantly to the protein intake of the people of Sri Lanka with 70 percent of the annual protein consumption being derived from fish. According to the statistics, Freshwater fishery contributes about 20% of the total fish production of the country. Aquaculture in Sri Lanka is based on pond fish culture and seasonal village…
“I was so impressed with this VKC model to render distant services from a single window point to rural masses of remote areas” -Issatheen- Village Focal Point / Key local driver for knowledge service Issatheen is one of our passionate smallholder farmers and retired government worker from Minukkan Village, – Mannar who has joined…
Mr. Aron Halfen, Senior Advisor, Caritas Norway visited the Food Security program field locations in Chilaw, Mannar, Jaffna, Vanni and Kandy on 17th to 22nd November 2021 accompanied by the Rev. Father Mahendra Gunatilleke, National Director, Mr. Priyantha Fernando, Program Manager, Mrs. Nilani Tissera, National Program Coordinator, and Mr. Nishanth, Regional Coordinator (North & East) from Caritas…
“OUR ACTIONS ARE OUR FUTURE ”Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life” World Food Day was created by the UN in 1979, recognizing food as not a privilege but a right. It’s a day to draw attention to the hungry and the undernourished, and to ensure healthy diets for all. Caritas…
The Government’s new policy decision to go for organic farming with a rigid ‘no’ to chemical fertilizer and other agrochemicals has moved to a new controversial debate in the country. In such a situation, under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunatilleke, National Director, CSL the National Food Security Division, CSL conducted a National level Webinar on…
Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC is implementing this program by aiming to safeguard food security for subsistence farmer households in urban & rural poor and marginalized communities inclusive of war widows, women, youth, school children, pre-school children and their mothers by switching over to sustainable agricultural practices and to protect them from malnourishment by 2022. The program…
A capacity building training was organized under the program of “Addressing causes for poverty and ensuring food security for farming communities” implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Unit, Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC, in order to address one of the key objectives- ‘Communities are mobilized and the civil society organizations are agents of change’. The main focus of this…
Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together. The UN World Food Day is celebrated on the 16th of October every year. Since 2013 Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC and its network of 13 Diocesan Centres (DCs) have been working to ensure food security to poor subsistence farmers in Sri Lanka. This was done in Caritas DCs of Anuradhapura,…
Tree Planting Ceremony at St. Joseph Vaz Shrineat Mahagalgamuwa “Planting trees to combat global warming; Planting trees to save the environment.” The surrounding area of the National Shrine of St. Joseph Vaz was alive with the smiling faces of the youth from the area carrying banners and placards on the benefits of planting trees in a procession…
“No one should die of Hunger-End Hunger by 2025”- Pope Francis Caritas Sri Lanka –SEDEC is implementing the program “Addressing causes for poverty and ensuring food security for farming communities” by aiming to switch over to sustainable agricultural practices through development of Home gardens with the support of Caritas Norway/NORAD. This program is implemented in…
The Coronavirus pandemic and its disastrous spread with no known solution is adding stress to most of our lives right now, but spending the time doing some gardening at home helps us not just to maintain sanity, but also as a source of our own food during this uncertain period, is a perfect way to…
Bees may be small creatures, but the role that they play in the environment is a very important one. The tiny hairs found on the bodies of these insects allow them to carry pollen from one flowering plant to another, and this process – called pollination –is how seed –bearing fruits, vegetables, grains and other…
On the invitation of Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunatilleke, National Director, H.E. Trine JØranli Eskedal, Ambassador of Norway visited the Food Security program field location in Galaha, Kandy on 17 October 2019 accompanied by Malraji Wanniarachchi, Seniour Advisor, Development and Thilini Kahandawaarachchi, Political Advisor, from the Royal Norwegian Embassy. As a result of the strong partnership…
Caritas Sri Lanka network commemorated the World Food Day 2019 on 16th October 2019 at Caritas Sri Lanka –SEDEC. This year WFD is being observed under the theme “Our Actions Are Our Future Healthy Diets for A# Zero Hunger World.” The opening ceremony commenced with the Holy Eucharistic celebrated by Rev. Fr. Desmond Perera, Diocesan…
Mr. Aron Halfen, Programme Adviser of Caritas Norway visited Sri Lanka on 13 August 2019 to review the progress of the island-wide Religious Amity and Food Security Programmes supported by NORAD, through Caritas Norway. Mr. Aron has made a visit to Jaffna and met with the families who are beneficiaries of the “addressing causes for…
Ms. Martha Rubiano, Secretary-General of Caritas Norway visited places of Easter Sunday terror attack including St. Anthony’s Shrine at Kochikade in Colombo and St.Sebestian’s Church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo on Friday 16th August 2019 and met victims of the Easter Sunday attack. Rev. Fr. Jude Raj Fernando the administrator of St. Anthony’s Shrine and Rev. Fr.…
