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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this system are the sole responsibility of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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Creating Ownership & Inspiring Action: Promoting Community Engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka's LLRC Recommendations and Action Plan Sarvodaya having engaged in an analysis of the Sri Lanka Government appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report and the subsequent 2012 Action Plan, to identify how best it could continue working for national reconciliation and sustainable peace within this new framework. Their review revealed that the recommended activities of the LLRC and Action Plan exhibited a lack of any significant engagement with the general public. Therefore, Sarvodaya’s mission is that by implementing the SPICE-funded project ‘Creating Ownership & Inspiring Action’ as a means of addressing this absence, it would constructively contribute towards the revitalization of citizen engagement in society, by way of two main initiatives;
Engaging and mobilizing citizens on the benefits of island-wide implementation of the LLRC recommendations Enhancing the capacity of the Divisional Deshodaya Forums (DDF) to participate in governance by engaging in advocacy activities supportive of attaining national reconciliation and a sustainable peace
In October, 2013, a training workshop was held for 50 participants from the DDFs, 5 each from the Kandy, Rathnapura, Pollonnaruwa, Puttalum, Moneragala, Badulla and Kegalle Districts. The training workshops were based on the LLRC recommendations, National Action Plan, good governance, advocacy, information acquisition and communications, community planning and reflection. The objective of the trainings was to enable participants to actively contribute towards developing the capacity of their respective communities to partake in the implementation of the LLRC recommendations and to engage with local authorities. Further, to empower participants to become trainers within their home DDFs. Also, by facilitating community-local Government forums and collaborative projects, in keeping with the LLRC recommendations, communities participating in DDFs will obtain practical experience in engaging and working with local authorities. In turn, local authorities too, will be more appreciative of the significant role civil society can play with regard to the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. Participants from 12 DDFs in 7 project districts participated in the workshop, which gave participants a comprehensive understanding of the project and its objectives. External and internal resource persons conducted training sessions on the LLRC and its National Action Plan (NAP), good governance and its practices, engaging with local Government authorities and their roles and responsibilities, and finally on community participatory project planning. Upon their return to their respective communities, the training participants in turn conducted awareness programmes for their fellow Deshodaya members, by sharing what they had learnt at the training workshops. Further, they began to identify issues in their respective areas that would make effective discussions points when in dialogue with the local Government authorities. Twelve outreach workshops were conducted across the districts, with the National Project Team also in attendance. All the workshops were held at local Government authority buildings with the participation of Chairmen, local Government authorities, their secretaries and members. The event provided a unique opportunity for the DDF members to strengthen their relationships with these authorities, and they were also able to discuss issues pertaining to reconciliation efforts, gaps in public participation, and brief need assessments of the area.
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The second training workshop was conducted in January 2014, with external resource persons conducting sessions on the Right to Information, citizens’ journalism and the use of social media in good governance efforts. The workshop also provided the opportunity for participants to discuss and share their experiences of working with the respective local Government authorities. Thereafter, 24 DDF meetings were conducted across the districts, to decide on the most suitable collaborative community project for their respective village. Participants in attendance at these meetings included direct participants of the trainings, other DDF members, local Government authority representatives, other State and non-State partners of the area, and stakeholders of the identified issues/community projects. Considering the special attention given to ensuring gender balance when selecting participants for the training, it was very heartening to note that also in keeping with LLRC recommendations, in a majority of the projects, women seem to have taken the lead and/or being very much an integral part of the process.
1) Equipment for 3 Pre-Schools – Badulla District LLRC Recommendations: *Vulnerable Groups – Children – 9.93 & 9.95 *Education – Equal Opportunities – 9.254 *Art and Culture - Linguistic and Cultural Affinities as Instruments for Promoting Reconciliation – 9.271 & 9.276
Three pre-schools from Rokathenna, Uduwara and Haaliala, which are majority Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim villages, respectively, were badly in need of school equipment. Therefore, this project was selected, as this initiative encourages inter-communal peace and unity, in-keeping with the LLRC recommendations, and of course fulfilling a real need in these villages, as both the local DDF and the Pradeshiya Sabha official pointed out. 4
These pre-schools had a shortage of even basic equipment such as cupboards, racks, water tanks, white boards, and a stereo set-up. Schools were also provided with thri-lingual name boards. Before the goods were distributed, communities from each of the three villages, participated in Shramadana activities of the other, to assist in cleaning up and making the surrounding environment suitable for a pre-school. Further, former a Pradeshiya Sabha official, conducted a training/awareness campaign on civic rights and duties, with an emphasis on the responsible utilization of resource. All the equipment was distributed to each of the schools on 24th June, 2014, at a ceremony, where the children also performed in a special concert. On Ramazan day last week, many Sinhala and Tamil families were visiting their Muslim neighbours to celebrate their festival together. Further, the children and parents of all three pre-schools are planning a trip together at the end of August. The United Religious Initiative (URI) in our area too encourage inter-community harmony and unity and many villagers have already got membership with the URI and carry out various projects etc., together.
2) Rural Vocational Training Center, Hasalaka, Kandy District LLRC Recommendations: * Vulnerable Groups – General - 9.83-84 * Vulnerable Groups – Women - 9.87-90
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The planned community project proposal was to build a Vocational Training Center in Hasalakagama, Hasalaka, and to conduct a sewing course for war widows and other vulnerable women. Initially, there were only 20 women attending the course, but since then, it’s increased to 32 women. As there is a half-built community hall already in existence (also donated by Sarvodaya,) it will be completed under this project. The Hasalaka-Minipe Pradeshiya Sabha donated the 4 sewing machines and the electricity supply. The project targets Muslim and Sinhalese war widows from the area. Further, women are trained on how to produce mosquito nets by a skilled local woman who’s also an entrepreneur. Although the training is being given, marketing of these goods is yet to be looked into. The Hasalaka Pradeshiya Sabha officer is very supportive and well-informed on the LLRC recommendation and the needs of the area. He actively intervened in mobilizing the community and reaching a consensus on the best suited project for the area, with the DDF group. Even following the inauguration, the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman has been checking on the progress of the Centre, and have plans to provide loans to the trained women in collaboration with the Bank of Ceylon. In the first phase they will make mosquito nets, and in the second phase they will be trained in the production of Batik garments (with the support of Bank of Ceylon). There are also plans underway to offer training in leather production in the near future. A mosquito net is priced at Rs. 1,000, with Rs. 250 being provided to the trainee, and the remaining Rs. 750 being accumulated into a rolling fund that will be used to ensure sustainability of the community project.
3) Campaign to Protect Child Rights, Mawanella, Kegalle District LLRC Recommendations: *Vulnerable Groups – Children – 9.95
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This campaign was carried out in three phases – i) Conducting, 9 awareness raising programmes on the protection of child rights, targeting students from 12 schools, under the Mawanella Zonal Education Office. ii) Two awareness raising programmes for parents in the community and iii) a public walk to raise awareness on child rights within the community. i) The 9 awareness raising programmes were conducted at different schools in the area, with students and teachers in attendance. The programmes reached over 1300 students and about 75 teachers /volunteer teachers/elders. The topics covered included, child rights violations and the law, adolescence and the environment, children’s duties and responsibilities, and issues pertaining to child abuse and harassment etc., All the resource persons were Government employees well versed on these issues. Many children were appreciative that their schools had been selected even though their schools were very interior in location. They also found the content of the trainings to be essential, educational and very beneficial for their futures. School Principals too found these trainings very timely and relevant for their students. The students followed the lectures with the utmost interest and eagerness and even invited certain speakers to return to their schools for further lectures along the same lines. ii) The two awareness programmes directed at parents, discussed the impact of domestic violence on children, violation of child rights and the role of society in protecting child rights. These programmes too were received well and found to be very beneficial. iii) The awareness raising walk/rally held in Mawanella, where children carried slogan posters and banners and distributed awareness raising flyers. The following organizations supported this initiative; the Pradeshiya Sabha, police, MOH office, Zonal Education Department, students of the Randiwela and Balawathgama schools, Sarvodaya Deshodaya district and divisional officers, pre-school teachers, divisional secretariat officials etc., A speech on how to overcome child abuse in Sri Lanka, was also delivered at this walk.
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4) Drinking Water Sanitation Project – Siripagama, Ratnapura District LLRC Recommendations: *Grievances of Tamils of Indian Origin – 9.200 & 9.201
The DDF in Siripagama decided to construct a water tank in their village, as the neighbouring plantation workers too, have no access to clean drinking water. The tank in use till recently, was located at a lower level, and was not protected, and therefore was unsuitable for drinking. Further, the Pradeshiya Sabha tested the water and found it not suited for drinking purposes. So the villagers decided to put their resources and skills together and construct a new water tank, with pipes that’ll take the water down 1.5kms down to the village below. A total of 600 villagers (including those from the plantations) will benefit from this tank. The villagers themselves got together and did all the work. The project should be complete in about a moths time. It’s been very difficult as the area where the tank is being built cannot be accessed by vehicle, so the villagers have to carry all their equipment by hand daily. The silt collection tank has been completed and the cylinders have been lowered into the springs. Now only the stock tank needs to be constructed for the project to be complete. The Palath Sabha has committed 3 lakhs for this project and a local parliamentarian too committed 1 lakh. But the villagers haven’t received the funds as yet.
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5) Peace Library – Kundasale, Kandy District LLRC Recommendations: *Peace Education – 9.255 * Art and Culture - Linguistic and Cultural Affinities as Instruments for Promoting Reconciliation – 9.275
The village of Ambakota in Kundasale, Kandy (Central Sri Lanka) is a multi-ethnic/religious community, with a majority Tamil populace. The idea for a Peace Library was born out of the fact that this is a rural, impoverished village, and villagers had to travel about 5 miles to access the public library in Digana and also as there are not many Tamil books accessible at the regular public libraries in the area. As the village temple is both central and looked on as a ‘safe space’ by all communities in the area, it was selected as the most suitable location to house the library. There’s no differentiation between Sinhala and Tamil children here, so to further endorse that sentiment, we find such an initiative apt, as it is inclusive of everyone. Also as villagers from both Sinhala and Tamil communities flock at the temple premises, it is an ideal place to exchange thoughts and ideas, particularly as many of the books are related to peace, folk tales, unity, co-existence and reconciliation etc., In addition, academic books too can be found here. Before 1984, this area used to be under the Pallakele Plantation sector (5 divisions), where only Tamils lived. But in 1984, Sinhalese villagers were also brought and settled here under the Mahaweli Scheme. At that time, many Sinhalese spoke Tamil fluently, but, now more Tamils speak Sinhalese so, not many Sinhalese have the need to speak it. However, many teachers are interested in learning Tamil and hopefully they will go on to teach Sinhala students Tamil as well.
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It’s very valuable to have a library here, as people are not in the habit of visiting libraries usually. Most often, people don’t even buy a daily newspaper, so now there’ll be an incentive for children to go and read and learn more. Even worshippers and passers-by can now stop-by at the library and read at least the newspaper. Many Hindu children learn Sinhala language and Buddhism at the Dhaham Pasal (Sunday School) classes conducted at the temple, and a Tamil child even topped the class at the exams. Also, by interaction Sinhala children will also pick up Tamil. And they also hope to start Tamil language and IT classes in the near future. By creating unity between the two communities, the villagers hope to attain peace and reconciliation by learning and understanding more about one another’s culture, perspectives and languages. This will also help strengthen trust and confidence between the communities. The library will also provide great economic relief to the community, as they can borrow books from the library instead of purchasing them. This temple is particularly significant because the Chief Incumbent played an important role in bringing the people together, as there were many problems in this area, during the early part of the war. Even during the war, the priest built a temporary camp within the temple premises to house Tamil villagers who sought refuge. Further, as part of his resolve, the Chief monk spearheaded the formation of the Sinhala-Tamil United Organization in January 2010, to promote reconciliation between the Sinhala and Tamil communities. This Organization looks into resolving common problems faced by the villagers, and not problems within one or other of the communities, unless specifically requested to intervene. Ambakota was also presented with the Presidential Award for Ethical Excellence under the ‘Mahaweli Govi Upahara 2011’ scheme, for its’ contribution to reconciliation in the country. Independent research had been conducted in secret, by making random visits to homes in the village, and observations made on how well the different communities co-existed and worked together etc., Researchers have found that many homes even had all the religious statues in an alter within their homes. The Pradeshiya Sabha, local community and religious leaders, elders and temple steering committee, were all in support of this initiative and extended maximum support towards its implementation. The community themselves built the structure and fundraised for the remainder of the funds, furniture and books.
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6) Kidney Disease Awareness Campaign - Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa District LLRC Recommendations: * Vulnerable Groups – Elderly – 9.96-100
The villagers of Medirigiriya, a farming community in the North Central Province, is carrying out an awareness campaign on kidney failure, as there’s a high prevalence of this disease in the region. The main cause of this disease in the area is due to the heavy use of chemicals for rice cultivation, which then seeps into the ground and gets mixed with their well water. Unfortunately, as there are very few symptoms of this illness, until it is too late, it has resulted in many deaths in the region. The awareness programmes organized by the villagers are three-fold. a) Early detection of illness b) Encourage farmers to minimize their use of chemicals by at least refraining from its use when it comes to personal consumption. The programme encourages farmers to cultivate their own home-gardens purely with the help of carbonic compost, as it will be very difficult to get farmers to stop using chemicals altogether, overnight. At the awareness raising meeting, the villagers had invited a doctor from the Government Hospital to speak on the unidentified kidney disease, and possible preventive measures that can be taken to avoid infection. This was also an ideal opportunity for participants/villagers to have the doctor clear any doubts regarding the illness. Thereafter, the Agricultural Officer of the area spoke to the farmers on organic agriculture, and also conducted a mini demonstration on how to prepare a compost plot in one’s home garden. The organizers also distributed agricultural equipment to the participants, so as to promote organic 11
agriculture. The villagers have planned to conduct 3 more such awareness programmes, and a medical clinic to test their vulnerability to the unidentified kidney disease. The programme is also encouraging farmers to revert to traditional farming practices and usage of wheat types (i.e. Pachcha Perumal, Suwadal, Kurulu Thuda, Kalu Heenati etc.,) that do not require the use of chemicals at all to yield. In addition to improving the quality of drinking water in the area, many of these traditional types of wheat also help control/lower high blood pressure and diabetes. Under the programme, farmers are provided with these seeds free of charge, to at least use for home consumption for the time being. Maybe in time, more people would be socially conscious and organic produce might become more lucrative commercially as well.
7) Sunday School/Community Centre – Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa District LLRC Recommendations: *People to people contact – 9.278 *Interfaith Activities – Role of Religion in Reconciliation – 9.269 * Chapter Eight: Reconciliation - Section II: Observations and Recommendations on Reconciliation – 9.173-177 *Grievances of Sinhalese in Villages Adjacent to Former Conflict Areas – 9.199
The Sunday School classes held at Dimbulagala is attended by about 380 children from the village and the neighbouring villages of Bandanaagala, Ellewewa, Mahadamana, Galeliya. Thus far, as they’ve not had a suitable place to conduct classes, teachers have had to resort to carrying out classes under a tree within the temple premises. As a result, they were unable to conduct classes during the rains. Therefore, the Forum held a discussion with the Temple Steering Committee and chief monk and villagers opted to prioratize this project, as it would benefit the most number of people. The building could also act as a community centre and space for tution classes, as there currently is no specific space for the village to gather etc., The proposed building will be built within the temple premises and with the support of the temple chief monk and steering committee. 12
By way of support, the village temple has so far donated SLR 15,000 (with a promise to donate more,) and the support of a junior MP from the area. The Pradeshiya Sabha has not extended in support to the villagers initiative as yet. However, many prominent villagers who were invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony of the building, donated SLR 20,000 on the day itself, which went towards the building fund. In addition, some of the villagers also donated some raw material and all the labour too is being undertaken by the villagers. Those working as masons sacrifice a/many days’ wage (up to SLR 1500 per day), to offer their services to help construct the building. Further, community leaders estimated the total cost of the building to be 1.2 million rupees, and it seemed that the villagers where more than happy to make personal contributions to make up the balance required.
8) Tamil classes for Government Servants – Balangoda, Ratnapura District LLRC Recommendations: *The Language Policy – 9.244 & 9.241 In Balangoda, a multi-ethnic town in Ratnapura, the DDF decided to conduct Tamil classes for Government servants, as their knowledge of Tamil is very low. As there are many Tamil speaking villagers that come to Government departments to get their work done, officials who are unable to converse in Tamil find it very difficult to attend to their issues. The Grama Sevaka office too has a very low capacity to assist Tamil speaking villagers. Therefore, the Forum has developed a programme targeting Govt servants from departments such as the post office, Police, hospital, school, Grama Sevaka etc., Both the Government employees and the Tamil speaking villagers are stranded when they are unable to communicate with each other. Still, not many official letters are sent in Tamil. This makes it very difficult for Tamil speakers to engage wit Government departments. Further, if the Government official is able to speak in Tamil to native speakers, then it also builds confidence and trust between the parties. Many Tamils speak Sinhala fluently, but most Sinhalese cannot, as usually the majority community they don’t see the need for it. Government officials on the other hand, do have a need for it, as it would make the service more inclusive and efficient as they’d be able to directly address people’s grievances. It would also serve to minimize potential ethnic tension and prejudice in the community. The Tamil and Sinhala communities live very closely together, as there are many plantations in the vicinity of the town and 90% of the shops in the area are run by the Tamil and Muslim communities. Culturally too, the two communities share a close bond, as many Sinhalese worship at Hindu kovils etc., Villagers say that they will be very happy if their Sinhala neighbours are able to converse with them in Tamil, and they would greatly appreciate the effort being made to learn. It will definitely help to boost the solidarity and confidence between the communities. They also find that the root of many problems is that people are unable to understand and communicate with one another. So, by learning each other’s languages, it will help ease misunderstandings, and people won’t continue to be fooled by politicians. It is essential that people build a better understanding between one another, so as to ensure that problems won’t arise again in the future.
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Even as children, most Tamil speaking children, also speak Sinhala and some also English. Sinhala speaking children are however lagging in this department, as not many are still able to speak in Tamil. We need to teach our children from a young age, that it is a need to speak and understand one another’s languages, thereby displaying that there’s no difference between the communities. This will be a fundamental step towards building national unity. The class is designed so that students will be able to speak, write and read at least basic Tamil at the end of 6 months course which started on the 29th of May. The curriculum of 24 chapters was formulated by the two teachers, one Tamil and one Sinhala who speaks, reads and writes Tamil fluently. There approximately 100-115 students learning in two batches of 50 or per class. They all attend class regularly with much enthusiasm. Most of the Government employees didn’t even know a word of Tamil when they first came. Now, at the end of 2 and half months, many of them have improved drastically, whilst all of them are able to string a few sentences together at least. They are all very eager to learn. The teachers too are very dedicated to the cause and use innovative methods to teach. Students also share their day-to-day experiences and problems faced whilst at work, and often clarify words or terms from the teachers. Students are also encouraged to speak to Tamil speaking colleagues or neighbours at every opportunity, so as to regularly practice. Even a female police officer who is in charge of the women’s desk in the area, attends the class diligently, as she says that it’s very important for her to understand and speak Tamil. She says that she has to constantly rely on a translator when a Tamil speaking woman comes to her desk to file a complaint, which is not ideal. Therefore, she wants to make the effort to learn Tamil so she can address the women’s grievances herself. The local Government authorities have been very supportive of the project, with the Nagara Sabha sending all their 50 staff and even volunteering their library space to hold classes once a week. Their staff is given 2 hours off every Thursday to attend classes. Even on a holiday, classes are held and staffers are expected to attend class. On a state level, the Government has created incentives for Government servants to learn both languages, by giving increments to those who pass the compulsory Tamil language test held for all Government servants. Further, there seems to be more of an interest and desire within the community at large, to be able to understand and co-exist with one another. Even schools have started to teach both languages to children from Grade 1 itself.
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9) Montessori Building – Wellawaya, Monaragala District LLRC Recommendations: *Vulnerable Groups – Children – 9.95
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The DDF selected Wellawaya, a small impoverished village in Monaragala, from the Uva Province, to build a pre-school for the children there, as there has been no permanent building to conduct schooling for them for at least 20 years. Often, children would be taught at one of the villager’s homes. Currently, classes are being conducted at the Dharma Shalawa (Temple Hall), but it is not an ideal location, as the premises cannot be locked and so there’s no way to secure the school material. Also, the children have no place to exhibit their handwork, as others would come in the evening and use the same space and invariably destroy the creations. Further, there isn’t anywhere secure to store the children’s sports equipment/toys either, sol older children come in the evenings and play with the equipment and break them. Drunkards too frequent the area and destroy the equipment and pass comments at the teaching staff, resulting in them not being in a state of mind to teach. There are approximately 40 children, aged 3-5, many of whom are children of injured soldiers. Children from the neighbouring village of Thanamalvila too, attend classes here, as they are now taught under the shade of trees. The children receive Thriposha (nutritional cereal) in the morning and lunch courtesy of the children’s parents who provide lunch in rotation for the children. Further, there’s no-where for infants under the age of 5, to be weighed to check for malnutrition and other related deficiencies. Currently, infants are weighed in swaddling cloth and scale hung on tree. Until now, this practice was carried out in the teacher’s garden. If not, parents have to take their children all the way to the MOH centre in the town. Now, with the erection of the new building, mid-wives will be able to carry out this practice in a more secure manner indoors. The villagers live with much hardship, as they barely have water to bathe and find it difficult to cultivate as well. However, the parents are very happy with the proposition of a new pre-school building, as they realize the importance of their preliminary education, in terms of producing productive citizens for the future. One of the parents in particular, initiated the effort and committed to getting the job done somehow. Even if it meant that he would have to make a donation from his personal funds. The Chief monk donated the land and timber for the construction, and made appeals to well-wishers for donations, whilst the rest of the village too rallied around. They managed to get a lot of the building material from the villagers, whilst the parents volunteered to transport the material to the construction site. All of the labour was distributed amongst the parents, who worked around the clock with no concern for time, sometimes working till 10-11pm at night. Even meals for the workers were provided by the villagers. Work started on the 13th of March, but there has been a delay due to the roofing sheets promised by the Palath Sabha not being provided as yet. Apparently SLR 80,000 has been allocated via the AG’s office for this project, but at the time of our visit in July, 2014, it has not been given to the villagers as yet.
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10.1) New Bus-Stand - Unaawatuna, Monaragala District LLRC Recommendations: *Grievances of Sinhalese in Villages Adjacent to Former Conflict Areas – 9.197-9.199 *Chapter Eight: Reconciliation - Section II: Observations and Recommendations on Reconciliation – 9.173-177 *Interfaith Activities – Role of Religion in Reconciliation – 9.269
Unaawatuna is a village in Buttala, which is part of the Uva Province (South East Sri Lanka), and centrally located to five villages (Harigalagama, Ambakolawewa, Wewaparagama, Kudaoya, Palugasmada), that comprise the Unaawatuna Grama Niladhari division. Therefore, the Unaawatuna Sarvodaya Shramadana Samithiya via the Sarvodaya Deshodaya programme, proposed that a much needed bus stand be built in the village. There had been a small bus stand in the village before, but when the roads were widened, the bus stand had to be brought down. Therefore, the people have been without a bus-stand for about one year now. Further, as this stand was located by the side of the main road connecting to Colombo and Batticaloa. This bus-stand is also of utmost importance to all those employed at/commuting to, the village schools, temple, pre-schools, MOH Office and other key Government Departments, particularly those employed at the Pelwatte Sugar Corp. As there are approximately 800 families residing in this village, it has been very difficult managing without a bus-stand. Although Unaawatuna is a majority Sinhala village, villagers from the neighbouring Tamil and Muslim villages travel through daily to get to work. Even though there were troubles in the area during the war, we have lived in harmony with each other throughout, and are very united. This bus-stand will be for everyone – nobody will be discriminated. 17
Villagers need to walk 2-3 kms in the hot sun to get from their homes to the main road. In addition, they have to continue suffering in the sun whilst waiting for a bus to arrive. It is also quite dangerous for mothers of infants who are made to stand across the road if they are to wait for the bus in the shade of a tree, and then need to cross the main road once more when their bus arrives. Although roads are being developed, there is no allotment made to construct bus-stands. Therefore, elders and children alike, have to suffer in the hot sun, everyday whilst waiting for a bus. Therefore, the villagers are very enthusiastic about the construction of a new stand. Whilst a majority of the funds to be utilized is via Sarvodaya, the villagers too need to fundraise amidst their communities to cover the rest of the cost. Although the Pradeshiya Sabha official has promised to give the villagers the remaining funds required, they are yet to receive the funds. As a result the construction too has got delayed. However, if they don’t received funds from the local official’s office, they intend to raise the remainder funds from the communities who will benefit from the stand. Further, the labour too is being provided by the villagers, so there will definitely be a sense of ownership, and camaraderie, trust and unity between the communities once the stand has been completed. The villagers estimate the stand to be complete by the end of August, 2014. Also significant is the Buttala bus bomb of 2008 by the LTTE. As a result, many families were made to suffer, and mistrust and ill feeling between the communities was rampant. Therefore, this bus-stand is also a move towards reconciliation and co-existence between the communities and symbolic of a much needed peace and unity.
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10.2) Hindu Shrine – Mahagodayaya, Monaragala District LLRC Recommendations: *Grievances of Sinhalese in Villages Adjacent to Former Conflict Areas – 9.197-9.199 *Chapter Eight: Reconciliation - Section II: Observations and Recommendations on Reconciliation – 9.173-177 *Interfaith Activities – Role of Religion in Reconciliation – 9.269
Mahagodayaya is a village near Buttala in the Uva Province (South East Sri Lanka), where a majority Sinhala population resides since the late 1970’s. Today, approximately 750 Sinhala families and 200 Tamil families reside here. The Tamil families who were living in “line housing” (squalid settlements allocated for plantation workers) till the early 1990’s, were relocated under the Gam Udawa Programme, to a new settlement, named Saama Gammanaya (Peace Village). For many decades now, there has been a small shrine to Lord Pillaiyar by the side of the main road. Sinhala (Buddhist) and Tamil (Hindu) devotees from nearby villages and passers-by, often stopover to make an offering or worship at this shrine. As an act of unity and solidarity, the village Buddhist temple committee, via the Sarvodaya Deshodaya Programme, proposed building a larger shrine for devotees, as there isn’t a proper shrine in the area. The villagers from both Mahagodayaya and the Saama Gammanaya are very united – their children attend the same schools and pre-schools together, and the villagers also attend Samurdhi and other gatherings, funeral and almsgivings together. They are often in and out of each other’s homes. Although there was a lot of trouble in this village during the war, there was no animosity between the village people. The villagers claim that they don’t have any problems with their Tamil neighbours and aspire to live in unity in the future too. This is one of the primary reasons they decided to build this shrine, villagers say. 19
11) New Hospital Waiting Area – Marawila, Puttalam District LLRC Recommendations: *Interfaith Activities – Role of Religion in Reconciliation – 9.269
The surgery section of the main hospital in Marawila had no waiting area. Families members of surgery patients would have to wait elsewhere in the hospital or resort to standing outside in the sun. Also if it rained, families would have to take shelter in doorways, if they could find a free one in time. They had no place to even keep trolleys with other patients waiting for surgery. The hospital is frequented by villagers of all ethnic communities (including IDPs from the North) from the nearby villages. As they are 1 lakh short, they will need to raise funds from the communities to complete their project. The villagers, with the support of the Hospital Director and staff, are carrying out all the work themselves, including labour.
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12) Trilingual Name Boards at the Madampe Government Hospital, Puttalam District LLRC Recommendations: *The Language Policy – 9.241 & 9.242
The initial project proposed was to construct a peace playground in the area, but it wasn’t successful. The Pradeshiya Sabha official in the area was not cooperative, and even the Chief Buddhist monk who pledged land for the playground couldn’t fulfill his promise, due to the lay leaders of the temple opposing the idea. So instead, DDF members visited the Madampe Hospital, and held discussions with the main Base Hospital authorities and were told of three pressing needs – renovations to the mortuary and staff washrooms and tri-lingual sign boards. As the third requirement was most in keeping with the LLRC recommendations, the villagers opted to put it to action. At the time, all the hospital signboards were only in Sinhala and English, despite there being large Muslim and Tamil populations that frequent the hospital. Therefore, the hospital authorities found it imperative to have sign boards in all three languages. The Hospital Director and staff have given their full support to the villagers’ initiative. Till now, patients and their families who did not read Sinhalese would need to depend on someone else to direct them. Often patients would be subject to much inconvenience as they would be unable to locate the pharmacy in time, and would therefore need to return the next day to purchase their medication. This hospital caters to approximately 4500 families from the nearby villages of Suduwella, Karukkuwa, Galahitiyawa, Issanmedilla, Simbukattiya, Ooraliya, Madampe (old town), Iranavila, part of Mahawewa, Miriswatte and Nelumokuna. 21
To date, the villagers have successfully installed more than 20 demarcation/name boards, two boards illustrating a side map and comprehensive map of the hospital, respectively and the main lit-up hospital board. Although the boards were done privately, it was the villagers who installed all of the boards at the hospital. The Pradeshiya Sabha and the village Welenda Viyaparika Sangama (Traders Union) have pledged their support to this initiative.
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