The Social Justice and Sustainable Peace Unit emphasizes on work towards promoting peace processes, social cohesion and an all-inclusive society to the nation at large. In the context of the present instability in the country due to heightened tension between races and political unworthiness, reliable processes of peace and conflict mitigation is of great importance. Caritas Sri Lanka has recognized the above and has assembled vast sums of resources through 4 major projects, to be a guiding light towards empowering the people of Sri Lanka across all religions and races, to bring back human dignity, encourage human life and contribute to establish Gospel values. The Social Justice and Sustainable Peace Unit works through 1. Religious Amity 2. Healing and Reconciliation, 3. Helping People move towards Reconciliation and 4. AGIAMONDO Peace Initiatives to fortify the Unit’s goal to “create a conducive atmosphere for a just and violence free society where people will be living in peace and harmony by respecting the diverse natures of different ethnic and religious groups and their cultures”
The Regional Peace Forum for the Plantation Region took place on November 6th, 2024, at Caritas Galle, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to address the challenges faced by the plantation community. The event, funded by MISEREOR, ran from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and provided a platform for in-depth discussions on key regional…
The Regional Peace Forum for the Western Region, held on the 31st of October 2024, brought together the beneficiaries to discuss and address the challenges they face locally. This event, funded by MISEREOR, was conducted at the Caritas Chilaw Auditorium from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There were 29 youth and Regional Peace Forum members,…
On 9th October 2024, the Regional Peace Forum was successfully conducted at Caritas Trincomalee, organized by Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC with the support of MISEREOR. This forum brought together key stakeholders and participants from the Jaffana, Mannar, Vanni, Trincomalee and Batticaloa Diocesan Centers, aiming to promote peace, stability, and prosperity by addressing the roots of…
On the 14th of October 2024, the Caritas Chilaw Diocesan Centre, under the CAFOD project, organized a community market opening ceremony to empower local beneficiaries. The event occurred at two locations, Baththulu Oya and Akkarapaha, gathering diverse participants. Beneficiaries, stakeholders, Caritas staff, and community leaders from various backgrounds came together, including representatives from the Sinhala…
On the 2nd of September 2024, Caritas Sri Lanka conducted an Election Awareness session at the Caritas Sri Lanka Auditorium under the Misereor-supported peace-building project. The event was attended by 36 project beneficiaries, stakeholders, program coordinators, 13 DC Directors, and National Center staff. The aim was to provide critical insights into the upcoming Presidential Election of…
Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC in collaboration with Caritas Chilaw and Caritas Seth Sarana organized a peace programme titled “Building Dialogue Skills to Improve Constructive Interaction for Peace,” funded by CAFOD on the 9th of July 2024, the Seth Sarana Center in Raddolugama, Seeduwa. The event ran from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and saw…
Caritas Sri Lanka hosted the Connect and Engage Communication Workshop, an innovative event on the 4th and 5th of July 2024 at the CSL Auditorium. This new initiative, generously funded by AGIAMONDO, brought together DC-level communication focal points, active youth, and few Seminarians from St. Aloysius, Minor Seminary – Colombo for two days of immersive…
From May 20th to 22nd, 2024, the Youth Exchange Program, funded by AGIAMONDO, brought together young minds from Badulla and Chilaw for a transformative experience. Held at the Caritas Chilaw Conference Hall, this two-and-a-half-day residential program aimed to empower participants by enhancing their self-identity, self-esteem, and leadership skills. The primary objectives of this initiative were…
The National Peace Forum, held on the 29th and 30th of May 2024, brought together a diverse group of participants to foster dialogue and build peace among all communities in Sri Lanka. Funded by CAFOD and MISEREOR, the event took place at the CSL Auditorium, running from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. each day under…
On the 11th of May 2024, Caritas Sri Lanka organized a special program called “Ethno drama to Encourage Communities in their Narrative of Peace and Reconciliation” was held. This event aimed at promoting Peace and Reconciliation within the community through the medium of Ethno drama. The event took place at Wepathanga village from 9:00 am…
In a world where information floods our screens with just a click, navigating through the vast sea of content can be dangerous. Recognizing the crucial need to equip today’s youth with the tools to discern truth from fiction in the digital landscape, a Media and Digital Literacy Training Program was recently held on the 27th…
Caritas Sri Lanka hosted an unforgettable celebration in honour of International Women’s Day on March 7, 2024, at the auditorium. This event aimed to recognize and amplify the diverse voices of women from various communities, including those from the plantation community, North and East regions, political activists, and social workers. The atmosphere was filled with…
In a world often overshadowed by discord and division, a heartening tale of unity and understanding emerged as a group of vibrant youth of the Jaffna Peninsula embarked on a life-altering journey to Caritas Chilaw under the ongoing”Peace Building Project” funded by MISEREOR Germany. This soul-stirring exposure visit to Chilaw took place from November 3rd…
In an inspiring event was held on October 27, 2023, at the CSL Auditorium, the launching of Religious Amity Training Modules Book. This significant event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of CSL (Caritas Sri Lanka) and Caritas Colombo Seth Sarana. The event was commenced with a common prayer about love, led by Fr.…
Forum theatre is an excellent tool for exposing and addressing the diverse conflicts that persist within society. This innovative theatrical technique offers a platform to explore, engage with, and ultimately seek solutions to complex social issues. By bringing these conflicts to the forefront, in a safe and creative space, forum theatre enables individuals to better…
Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC organized a study session on the 13th amendment to the constitution on, which was conducted by Mr. Suren Gnanaraj, Counsel – Attorney-at-Law with the participation of Rev. Fathers and Catholic Nuns representing different congregations. The program was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Bennette Mellawa, Director- Caritas Anuradhapura who highlighted during the…
Rev. Father Mahendra Gunatilleke was ordained to Catholic Priesthood on 25th July 1992 in the Arch Diocese of Colombo. Since then, he had served at many parishes. He also served as the director and editor of the messenger newspaper at the Catholic press in Colombo. At the plenary meeting held by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference…
We are a generation in this country who have been witnessing unending uprisings, upheavals, and horror that havocked our beloved nation. We have lost thousands of our brethren in somebody else’s ideology that led to hypocrisy, tyranny and terror. Our brethren who sacrificed their lives would have never thought that their endeavors – the reform…
Sri Lanka, a country that suffered a recent genocide (2019 Easter Terror Attack), two major youth insurrections, and a 30 years of civil war, is now facing an unprecedented set of economic challenges. The causes of the present economic crisis are primarily attributed to the collapse of revenues generated from tourism that was completely deterred…
Sustaining interreligious dialogue in a persuasive manner has been a pressing need of the time. Examining the trends of interreligious dialogue requires continuous review, learning, and reflection. Hence, Caritas Sri Lanka in consultation with the Secretariat of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue convened a lecture and experts’ discussion, on 23rd January 2022, on…
