Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC successfully hosted the Partners’ Forum 2025 on February 18, 2025, under the theme “Continuing the Journey towards Uplifting Sri Lanka.” The event brought together national and international partners, government representatives, experts, diocesan directors, coordinators and community leaders to discuss Sri Lanka’s pressing social and economic challenges and explore collaborative strategies to address them. This forum was held at Caritas Sri Lanka- SEDEC premises, Colombo 08, which provided an interactive space for dialogue, reflections, and planning, with a special emphasis on poverty alleviation, economic recovery, social cohesion, and humanitarian service.
The day commenced with a Holy Eucharist, presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Grenville Silva, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, set a spiritual and reflective tone for the discussions that followed. As participants arrived, they engaged in informal conversations over refreshments and registration, fostering an atmosphere of shared purpose. The official opening session began with a warm welcome from Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson Perera, National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC, who outlined the significance of the forum in shaping Caritas Sri Lanka’s mission for the years ahead. This was followed by Most Rev. Dr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, Chairman of the Catholic National Commission for Justice, Peace, and Human Development, who delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the critical role of partnerships in advancing social justice and development.
One of the key highlights of the opening session was the screening of a short documentary titled “50 Years of Compassion and Humanitarian Service.” The documentary showcased Caritas Sri Lanka’s legacy of service, capturing its transformative impact on communities through emergency relief, education, livelihood development, peacebuilding, and advocacy. This was followed by a powerful address from Mr Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, who spoke on the theme “Ending Poverty, Promoting Justice, and Restoring Dignity.” His speech underscored the collective responsibility of organizations, governments, and communities in tackling global inequalities and humanitarian crises.
Adding to the global perspective, Dr. Benedict Alo D’Rozaro, President of Caritas Asia, reflected on Caritas’ identity and fraternal cooperation, emphasizing the importance of unity among regional Caritas organizations in addressing common challenges such as climate change, migration, and economic disparities. Mr. Priyantha Fernando, Programme Manager of Caritas Sri Lanka, then presented key publications including the Country Profile, Research Documents, and Annual Reports, newsletters highlighting the organization’s ongoing work and achievements.
The first session of the forum featured insightful keynote presentations that provided a deep dive into Sri Lanka’s current realities and pathways for sustainable development. Dr. Trevor Mendis, a senior management consultant and faculty member at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, analyzed the economic crisis and potential recovery strategies, offering a data-driven perspective on policy reforms, investment opportunities, and the role of civil society. Hon. (Prof.) L.M. Abeywickrama, MP and an expert in agricultural economics, followed with a compelling discussion on the impacts of poverty and hunger on human development, emphasizing the urgent need for food security policies and sustainable agricultural practices.
A particularly thought-provoking presentation was delivered by Ms Swasthika Arulingam, Attorney-at-Law and former Program Manager at the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, who spoke on social cohesion and reconciliation. She explored how historical divisions, ethnic tensions, and economic disparities continue to hinder Sri Lanka’s progress, while also outlining community-driven initiatives and legal frameworks that could pave the way for a more inclusive society. This session concluded with an engaging open discussion, where participants exchanged ideas, asked critical questions, and identified collaborative opportunities to address these pressing issues.
The afternoon session offered a government perspective on Sri Lanka’s development vision, with Hon. Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Employment, outlining the government’s long-term strategies for economic recovery, employment generation, and international partnerships under the vision “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.” This was followed by the presentation of the Caritas Sri Lanka Strategic Framework (2026-2029) by Mr. Sagayaraj, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction & Mitigation Unit. His presentation detailed Caritas Sri Lanka’s core focus areas for the next four years, including climate resilience, disaster mitigation, livelihood empowerment, peacebuilding, and youth engagement.
One of the most impactful segments of the day was the regional presentations, where grassroots leaders shared firsthand accounts of community needs, challenges, and successes. Rev. Fr. Pradeep (Plantation Region), Rev. Fr. Alec (Western Region), and Rev. Fr. Arulraj (Northern & Eastern Region) led discussions on issues unique to their regions, such as migrant labour concerns, education access, post-war recovery, and disaster preparedness etc. Their insights highlighted the importance of localized solutions and reinforced the need for stronger collaboration between national and regional Caritas bodies.
As the forum drew to a close, global partners took the stage to reflect on their engagement with Caritas Sri Lanka, sharing success stories, challenges, and plans for collaboration. Mr. Yu Hwa Li, the event’s moderator, provided a comprehensive summary, capturing the key takeaways from the day’s discussions. The closing remarks emphasized the importance of collective action, grassroots participation, and sustained partnerships in achieving Sri Lanka’s development goals.
