Caritas Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Employment and Caritas Diocesan Centres organized a series of 2-day Capacity Enhancement Programmes for stakeholders engaged in the Safe Labour Migration related work in the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Hatton, Jaffna and Batticaloa.

The objective of these workshops is to build the capacities of the participants in spheres related to the case handling procedures, especially deploying an empathetic approach to their profession while dealing with the people whom they serve. It is expected to improve the quality of their service while understanding the emotions that the vulnerable migrants and their family member encounter. The participants are also enlightened of the work and services carried out by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

A 2-day workshop was held at the Hatton SIDA Centre on the 5th and 6th December 2019 and a group of 55 participants, including Migration, Development Officers in the district of Nuwara Eliya, leaders of the migration societies formed by PREDO, attended this programme, which was conducted in both mediums, Sinhala and Tamil.

On the 16th and 17th of January 2020 a group of 50 participants, including Migration, Development Officers in the District of Gampaha, leaders of the migration societies formed by Caritas  Seth Sarana – Colombo attended the 2-day residential programme conducted at Wet Water Resort, Gampaha.  The programme was conducted in Sinhala medium.

A group of 60 participants, including Migration, Development Officers in the District of Colombo, leaders of the migration societies formed by Caritas  Seth Sarana – Colombo attended the 2-day residential programme held at Wet Water Resort, Gampaha on 23rd and 24th of January 2020.  This programme was also conducted in Sinhala medium.

Two such workshops were also conducted in Jaffna and Batticaloa in the Tamil medium. The 2-day Workshop in Jaffna was held at the Retreat House, Panditharippur on the 30th & 31st January with a participation of 60 including Migration Development Officers of the Jaffna District.

The 2-day Workshop in Batticaloa was held at the ESCO Centre on the 6th & 7th February with a participation of 50 including Migration Development Officers and leaders of the migration societies formed by ESCO in the district of Batticaloa.

The Migration team of the Caritas National Centre spearheaded organizing and arranging the logistics in close collaboration with the respective Partners and Caritas Diocesan Centres.  This project intervention was carried out under the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) funded, Safe Labour Migration Project.

Resource Persons who facilitated the trainings –

Mr. G. A. Suresh – Psychosocial Expert & Trainer

Mr. Kanishka Rathnayake – Psychosocial Expert & Trainer

Mr. A. B. M. Saleem, Assistant Manager from SLBFE – Ampara

Mr. Leelarathna , DGM Social Development & Conciliation, SLBFE

Mr. T. Kodeswaran, Administrative Officer from SLBFE – Jaffna.

Mrs. Sandya Malage, General Manager, Provincial Office, SLBFE – Mathugama