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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…

“My name is Shanjika Kandeepan, and I live in the village called Selvanayagapuram. My life took a challenging turn when my father was abducted in 2008, leaving my twin sister and me under the care of our widowed grandmother, Mrs Maheswary Murugaiya. However, our situation shifted in 2019 when EHED Caritas, Trincomalee, stepped in to…

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…

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…

In a world marked by unpredictability, communities must be prepared for unexpected disasters. Caritas Sri Lanka National Centre, in collaboration with Caritas SED Galle, has taken a proactive step to enhance the resilience of individuals in Sri Lanka through skill development training in search and rescue operations and disaster preparedness. This remarkable training program under…

The 7th of October 2023 marked a day of celebration and togetherness in Athungoda Village, Puttlam in the Diocese of Chilaw as the community came together to celebrate World Children’s Day. This year’s theme, “Inclusion, for every child” took centre stage, emphasizing the crucial role children play in shaping the future. Caritas Sri Lanka, dedicated…

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…

Presently Sri Lanka is undergoing multiple challenges due to the economic and political crises in the country. The improper governance reforms and obtaining of foreign loans during the past years, the Sri Lankan government is in its inability to repay the external debt, whose interest and repayment must be paid in foreign exchange. In the…

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…

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…

Rev. Fr. Oswald B Firth, OMI, was a formator, academic, administrator, peacebuilder, and activist and had been the former director of Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC (1990-1995) during a period of major political and economic upheaval in the country with pressing social issues, particularly of development gap across regions and breeding inequality at the face of…

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…

Our Caritas family (Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC) is honored to offer Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi our sincere congratulations on becoming the new head of Caritas Internationalis. It’s a fantastic accomplishment and a real credit to his commitment, effort, and leadership. Archbishop of Tokyo, Rev. Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi SVD, is the President of the Catholic Bishops’…