Caritas Norway Delegation Engages in Heartfelt Discussion with the Chairman of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Sri Lanka

In a notable encounter on January 30, 2024, a delegation from Caritas Norway, featuring Mr. Tobias Wilbers (Program Advisor for the Food Security Program, Senior Advisor for Peace and Reconciliation, Caritas Norway), and Ms. Maria Langås (Humanitarian advisor, Caritas Norway), engaged in a meaningful discussion with Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Antony Perera, the Bishop of Kurunegala and Chairman of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in Sri Lanka at Bishop’s House, Kurunegala.

The meeting delved into the collaborative efforts between Caritas Norway and Caritas Sri Lanka, focusing on initiatives such as sustainable agriculture for food security and promoting religious harmony. Since January 2018, Caritas Norway has been dedicated to reducing hunger and poverty across all 25 Administrative Districts in Sri Lanka, contributing to a more harmonious society.

Caritas Sri Lanka has started implementing the program “Improving Rural Livelihoods, Enhancing Food Security, and Building Climate Resilience in Sri Lanka” from January 2023 to December 2027 (5 years) by aiming to safeguard food security for 90,400 households residing in 2470 villages in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka, accounting for some 311,000 direct participants. An estimated minimum of 993,500 direct and indirect participants will see an impact from interventions. Special attention will be given to children, youth, mothers of preschool children, and people living with disabilities (PLWD) in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Mannar, Kandy, Badulla, Colombo, Chilaw, Galle and Ratnapura dioceses under the leadership of National Director, CSL –SEDEC covering 25 Administrative Districts by 2028 with the support of Caritas Norway/NORAD.

The meeting was attended by key figures including Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson Perera, National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC, Rev. Fr. Thusitha Priyanga, Diocesan Director of Caritas Kurunegala, and Very Rev. Fr. Piyal Janaka Fernando, National Director of Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue. This gathering exemplified the ongoing commitment to positive change and collaboration between Caritas Norway and its Sri Lankan counterparts.