Caritas Sri Lanka, with the generous support of CAFOD, successfully organized a special programme on 22nd May 2025 to promote Inter-Religious Training Modules in schools. Held from 2.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., this event aimed to foster mutual understanding, respect, and harmony among schoolchildren of different faiths. The initiative provided a meaningful platform for students to learn about religious diversity by visiting significant places of worship and engaging directly with religious leaders. As part of the programme, students and accompanying parents and teachers visited four key religious sites: Mohideen Jummah Masjid and Sri Veerapathra Kali Amman Kovil in Udappu, Sri Punyaranthararamaya Temple in Kiriyankalliya, and St. James the Great’s Church in Mundel. At each location, the respective religious leader warmly welcomed the participants and shared valuable insights about their religious practices, customs, and spiritual values.
The programme brought together students from Grades 8, 9, and 10, along with their class teachers, parents, and the school principal. Key stakeholders in attendance included Rev. Fr. Dilan Marius, Director of Caritas Chilaw; Mr. Samantha Kumara, CAFOD Project Coordinator; Ms. Rupa Sandalatha, Peace Project Coordinator; and Ms. Eureshi Kaveesha, CAFOD National Centre Project Coordinator. Students were not only respectful and curious, but also fully engaged, asking thoughtful questions, actively listening, and even dressing according to the traditions of each religious site they visited. Religious leaders expressed their appreciation for the students’ interest and openness to learn, noting how important such interactions are for promoting peace and mutual respect.
The event concluded with a final feedback and reflection session held at Angunawilla Maha Vidyalaya in Puttalam. Students shared their experiences honestly, many stating it was their first time visiting places of worship outside their own faith. They expressed how much they had learned and how eager they were to spread positive messages of unity and respect in their own communities. The school principal and Rev. Fr. Dilan Marius praised the initiative as both inspiring and educational, noting its lasting impact on the hearts and minds of the young participants. This programme is part of Caritas Sri Lanka’s continued efforts to promote peacebuilding and interfaith understanding through education. The feedback session also allowed the national team to assess the outcome of the activity and to identify ways to build on its success in future programmes.
