Alliance News July - Sep 2013

JULY-SEPT 2013

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE OF SRI LANKA

Alliance Development Trust (ADT) believes in investing in the welfare of children as they are our hope for the future. ADT facilitates Change Makers’ clubs in underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka where various programmes and activities are conducted regularly in a manner that will give the participants an opportunity to organise and carry out activities that address issues prevailing in their communities.

Recently ADT organised a Unity Camp for Change Makers above 14 years of age and for the club volunteers at the Jaffna College Institute of Technology. This camp was held from 16th – 18th August, 2013 and was attended by a total of 125 participants from Change Makers‘ clubs in Galle, Ratmalana, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura,Vavuniya and Jaffna. The participants attended interactive sessions on attitudes that contribute towards peace and coexistence, leadership in ethnically diverse societies, values that help build one’s personality as well as awareness on child rights and child abuse.

The participants were also given an opportunity to display the values and identities of their communities at a talent night which was filled with dance, drama and music. As this camp marked most participants’ first visit to Jaffna, an educational trip to the Jaffna Public Library and Jaffna Fort was organised for their benefit.The entire programme was also filled with fun and laughter as games and activities were conducted in between the main sessions. A tree-planting ceremony too was arranged where the five groups of Love, Joy, Peace, Trust and Hope planted trees in celebration of their commitment to be ‘Peacemakers’.

“We are very happy to be a part of this Unity Camp” said Avishka, a Change Maker from Galle as he exchanged a symbol of peace with Thavalogan who is from Trincomalee. “We knew the meaning of ‘Peace’ but this camp taught us how to seek peace through reconciliation.” This camp was not only an opportunity for the participants to build lasting friendships with Change Makers of various communities but also equipped them to be ambassadors of peace and spread the message of reconciliation among family and friends.

Pictures show participants at Unity Camp, Jaffna

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The widows grow beans, chillies, snake gourd, eggplant, tomatoes, beetroot, ladies fingers, big and small onions in a one acre plot in Kaluvankerny, Batticaloa

HARVESTING HAPPINESS.........

Mary works on the vegetable plots twice daily. She finishes her morning chores by 6 a.m. in order to help the six other widows to water the plants and add manure to the plots.Then she returns home at 9 a.m. to tend to the needs of her three children and attend on her other chores and duties. She comes back at 4 p.m. to water the plants once more before leaving for home at 6 p.m. As the sole bread winner of her family, Mary has a busy daily schedule but she is happy that she is able to able to be part of this venture.

problems in providing for the needs of their families as they had lost their husbands to the ethnic conflict. The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) collaborated with the Methodist Church in Kaluvankerny, Batticaloa to provide these widows with a livelihood and support to return to normalcy. They were provided with one acre of unutilised property along with water pipelines, water pumps, seeds, manure as well as instruction in basic agriculture so that they may successfully cultivate this land.

The six other widows who work on this land had the same story to tell.

They too faced severe hardships and

The widows grow beans, chillies, snake gourd, eggplant, tomatoes, beetroot, ladies fingers, big and small 2

onions. Recently they harvested the fruits of their labour and shared 75 percent of the total profit amongst themselves while keeping aside 25 percent of the harvest as seeds for the next cultivation. This is also a unique opportunity for the widows to share advice and encouragement with one another. The widows also find working on this land therapeutic as it keeps their minds away from the daily stress they go through. “We are very grateful for this opportunity as it not only provides us with a livelihood but also allows us to engage in our other duties” Mary explained. “We thank God for this blessing and for the assistance received through NCEASL.”

Keeping Religious Freedom in School The war on the right to ‘thought, conscience and religion’ in Sri Lanka, that manifested itself in direct attacks on places of worship and proposed discriminatory legislature, has also taken a more subtle approach.

Reports on some of the recent attacks on religious minorities and places of worship, has reached the Sri Lankan public and other concerned groups alike, through a handful of media channels. A little known fact remains however, the discrimination that Christians come upon in the education sector.

News of such practices reached the Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance, through its networks. These practices ranged from school admissions being refused on the basis of religion; to penalty or punishment for the non-observance of religious rituals or practices that are not according to his or her belief.

Most of these complaints that were made from Christian families, living in the hill province of Sri Lanka, were at a loss as to how they were to respond to this situation.

One of the main problems they faced was the lack of sufficient knowledge on the extent to which students are free to exercise their religious rights at schools.

In response to this need to equip these Christian families with the necessary information, the RLC conducted a series of workshops. The workshops were held in Hatton, Nuwaraeliya and Kandy from 29th of July through to 19th August with an average of about 70 participants attending each workshop.

The participants who were mostly Christian clergy from NCEASL’s constituencies found the sessions an enlightening experience. While being guided on the steps they need to take if school admissions are refused on unfair grounds, they were also briefed on the right a child has to learn his or her own religion in a school that does not teach it. The parents were also provided with practical information, such

as important facts to remember when applying for school admission.

The sessions facilitated by the RLC of the NCEASL covered the legal provisions guaranteed in the constitution of Sri Lanka together with laws where Sri Lanka is bound internationally to respect and defend the religious rights of Her people. These sessions proved very valuable to the audience. Now equipped with knowledge of the freedom their children have to express their faiths in schools, relevant authorities can no longer hinder the rights to Religious Freedom in schools.

A Time of Reflection At Shalom Camp NCEASL conducted Shalom Camp for pastors and their families at the Family Resort Park, Dambulla on 3rd – 5th September 2013. The 85 participants represented 12 churches from the North Central Province. Shalom Camp is conducted with the objective of providing participants with the much needed encouragement, teaching and a time of rest and relaxation away from their busy life of ministry.

NCEASL also provides this community with an opportunity to freely engage in worship and prayer, unhindered by threats, violence or persecution which these believers usually undergo. At Shalom camp the participants were rejuvenated with a fresh commitment to serve in their communities. “We were able to renew our calling and return to our homes refreshed and ready to engage in ministry work even amidst persecution” said a pastor who was truly blessed by Shalom Camp.

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Lessons of Peace for Tomorrow’s Leaders Ethnic tensions and violence are great concerns prevailing in most Asian countries. Due to such situations a number of communities are victims of non-tolerance, hate speech, discrimination and ethnic conflicts which are detrimental to the development of a country. With the aim of empowering the youth of such countries to be agents of peace in their cultures and communities, Alliance Development Trust facilitated the interfaith dialogue –School of Peace– in collaboration with the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF).

A total of 15 youth from Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, East Timor and Sri Lanka participated in this programme which was conducted at Sanctuary House Pamunugama, Sri Lanka from 18th August to 18th October 2013. The interactive sessions were conducted with the objectives of encouraging individual transformation in the participants and encouraging the participants to be actively involved in implementing a national and regional strategy for peace through local action and advocacy. Apart from the resource persons who conducted the sessions, the participants themselves became facilitators of the programme when they shared their experiences, cultures and faith traditions in a bid to spread understanding and acceptance while creating an interfaith dialogue.

The sessions also provided the participants an opportunity to discover Sri Lanka and understand the process of reconciliation following the armed conflict. “We have learned so much from Sri Lankans and we have seen how peoples from various religions coexist.This will be one of the lessons we will take with Participants from Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, East Timor and Sri Lanka at School of Peace us when we go back home.” said a participant from Bangladesh. Following the 2 month programme the participants will go back to their countries where they will engage in field work within their local communities.They will return to Sri Lanka in January 2014 to complete their course of studies following which they will engage in spreading the message of peace and coexistence in their nation and region.

A Conference Hall with Wi-Fi becomes a reality The dream of building a conference hall was long in the making at Sanctuary House. Finally, after 11/2 years of construction, the new hall was declared open in August 2013 and is now ready to accommodate conferences and events of all kinds.

Sanctuary House’s Campsite Manager and NCEASL’s Senior Manager for Special Projects proudly display a long, spacious hall that can house up to 300 participants. It is lined with windows on either side letting in light, air and birdsong from the neighbouring coconut plantations.

The Sanctuary House Team has taken great efforts to make it a pleasant, ensconced place in which participants can spend several hours in a peaceful and relaxing meditation, prayer or group activity. Their passion, commitment and personal involvement in the construction and purchasing of quality mate-

rial shine through in the beauty and craftsmanship of the hall.

Some of the proposed enhancements for the hall will be an elevator to facilitate the movement of elders, air conditioning and partitioning of the the large hall, measuring 120 x 30 feet in length, which could then be used by two parties simultaneously.

The existing facilities at Sanctuary House include an air-conditioned conference hall that can seat 180 people, 5 air-conditioned dorms, 8 air-conditioned family rooms, a large play area, free Wi-Fi and five star quality cuisine. Quiet and personalised, Sanctuary House sits between the Indian Ocean and the Negombo Lagoon; the perfect spot for any retreat, just 24 km from Colombo City .

New Conference Hall that can accommodate up to 300 participants and can be partitioned in two to facilitate two parties

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Batticaloa, with its sandy beaches in Kalkudah and Passikudah, has become a celebrated tourist destination in Sri Lanka’s post war era. The religious and ethnic diversity of the communities in Batticaloa which contributes to the hue and exuberance of the region, has also resulted in ethnic tensions and incitement to hatred. Quite unfortunately, it is the Christian minority in the region which bears the brunt of these tensions.

The Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) of the NCEASL came across several instances where the Christians in Batticaloa were subjected to various forms of harassment and discrimination. During its regular monitoring, investigation and documentation through site visits, the Commission uncovered that Christians in Batticaloa were often denied their right to worship and faced violent attacks on their places of worship.

One of the critical issues these Christians had faced for the past 25 years was the denial of burial rights. According to the RLC this has mainly occurred in the villages of Kaliyankaadu, Irudayapuram, Mamandam and Kullaveddi.

Twenty reported incidents stated that villagers usually interrupted burial ceremonies of Christians, denying them the right to bury their deceased loved ones in public cemeteries.

This adverse response forced the Christians in the area to walk a distance of around 20 kilometres, to observe the final rites for the dead. Following an incident where a mob of 15 persons disrupted a funeral and even attempted to assault the presiding pastor and mourners, a case was filed in the Magistrates Courts of Batticaloa on the basis of breach of peace. In this case, the RLC supported the Batticaloa Pastors’ Fellowship and provided legal advice while covering all legal costs incurred during the entire process.

On 19th June 2013, the Magistrate ordered the Commissioner of the Municipal Council and the Divisional Secretary to maintain the rights of the Christians to utilise the public cemeteries for burials. This Magistrate further ruled that a gazette notification be issued to ensure that the Christians’ rights are not violated in the future.

This ruling is most welcome as it will ensure the burial rights of the Christians of Batticaloa.

Policing Violence Against Women in Vavuniya Violence against women is widespread in Sri Lanka.

Incidences of rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, incest, assault, obscenity against women and unwanted advances are among several acts of violence against women that prevail in Sri Lankan society. These issues receive attention from diverse sectors such as the State, non-governmental sector and civil society which address preventive methods and redress for victims. Despite this attention, violence against women continues to take place in the private and public sphere and the measures taken to prevent and redress this situation remain insufficient.

With the intention of equipping the Women and Children’s Unit of the Sri Lanka Police, particularly in the

North of the island, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka held a one day seminar at the Police Training Centre, Vavuniya on 25th June, 2013. The seminar addressed how to deal with complaints and grievances and empower the victims in order to improve the overall social position of women and children.

Several distinguished speakers addressed the audience of 92 police officers from Jaffna, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Chilaw. A participant said “Most cases revolve on violence against women, alcoholism and extra marital affairs.This seminar was very useful to me as I learnt more effective approaches to handling the plight of victims.”

General Secretary: Godfrey Yogarajah

Editor In Chief: Roshini Wickremesinhe

Design and Layout: Chandrika Abeysekera

Email: communications@nceasl.org

Telephone: 00945511358

www.nceasl.org www.adtlanka.org www.facebook.com/ADT.Sri.Lanka 7 7

Writers Jovita Arulanantham Deepthi Senanayake Melanie Pereira Chandrika Abeysekera Address: P.O. Box 113, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka

Although children can gain a range of valuable and playful learning experiences at school and in their family life, the cultural, social and experiential learning opportunities of an educational trip are unparalleled. This August and September was replete with field trips by Alliance Development Trust’s (ADT’s) Change Makers’ Clubs of four different towns in Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura, Ahangama, Ratmalana and Trincomalee.

Forty four children from Ratmalana, Suhadapura Change Makers’ Club visited the Logos Hope on 14th September, 2013 where they saw the bookfair, Captain’s room, lifesaving boats and restaurant. The Logos team also organised a value based programme on Galle Face Green, where the children learned lessons from the New Testament on aspects of using money wisely and on forgiveness, repentance and acceptance.

Forty children and 13 adults of the Ahangama Change Makers’ Club visited Hambantota on 10th August 2013. As most children had not seen the harbour and the airport they were very happy that they got this opportunity. They also visited the Televillage and an agricultural plantation.

Eighty five children and seven adults from the Anuradhpura Change Makers’ Club visited Trincomalee on 24th August. Some of these children had never seen the beach or climbed aboard a ship. This was a great opportunity for the children to view these places. They even got to see how food was processed at a food

processing plant. The adults who accompanied the children also enjoyed themselves immensely.

Thirty one children and 15 adults of the Killikunjumalai, Trincomalee Change Makers‘ Club visited Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa on 30th August. As a result of the educational trip the Change Makers of Killikunjumalai proposed to compile a book on the various experiences they had during the trip.The children of Killikunjumalai had seen these historic places only in their books and seeing them first hand gave them a greater chance of remembering the subject and made it easily understandable.

Some of the parents also stated;

“This educational trip was very useful to our children.

We ourselves had not visited these

places

and

had

not

been able to take our children on a trip like this until now. We are very grateful to ADT for giving us this opportunity. No other organisation gave us this opportunity.”

Change Makers of Anuradhapura, Ahangama, Ratmalana and Trincomalee gain a range of valuable learning experiences on their field trips

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