| Fact Finding Through Work Camp in Jaffna 04 – 07 June 2010 | | Print | |
We have held this work camp because youth from southern had been requesting us for this kind of activity when they listened to the views of youth from Jaffna at the youth camp held in Galle on last December. These Southern participants are represented several districts in Sri Lanka such as Matara, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Kurunegalle and Colombo. The main idea of this work camp was to develop great bond between different communities. In additional, this space provided participants to see the damages happened to the area by themselves and opportunities to talk with people who came back to their home areas and resettled. Not only that, participants were also able to explain their experiences in the North to those of the South and this created empathy in them towards the sufferings of the people in the Jaffna region. Very first night in Jaffna, we all stayed at several village houses and had dinner with them. Next morning we visited to Sri Nagavihara International Buddhist Centre with some village youth and had discussions with the Buddhist monks. Subsequently, we had a discussion with the Bishop of Jaffna. Same day we were able to have small discussions with a number of war-affected women. In the evening, we met several Muslim community leaders and had discussions with them. End of the day we came back to the same places where we spent last night. Third day morning, we went to Uruthirapuram and start Shramadhanaya as we had planned. Shramadhanaya continued entire day with support of Jaffna youth. End of the day we said goodbye to our Jaffna friends and headed towards Chavakachcheri. As we waved goodbye to them, we never forgot how gracious these people were. On our last day of work camp, we left early morning from Chavakachcheri where we spent night and we visited to re-settlement village in Vavuniya. These work camp activities have made the participants understand power sharing, language rights and the rights of the IDPs and the activation of the District Action Committee members. Moreover, participants from the South could see the real picture of the North than what they have learnt from the Media. The precious thing that happened during this period is, building up a good relationship among the participants from the North and the South and some of the participants started learning Tamil language for better communication with North friends in the future. Some highlights from the event:
Fact Finding Through Work Camp in Jaffna 04 – 07 June 2010 Agenda
1st Day - 04th June 2010 4.00 am Leaving from Colombo 8.30 am Break-fast at Dhambulla 1.00 am Lunch at Mankulam Army Camp 6.30 pm Arrival at Uduvil and setting down 7.30 pm Discussion with Jaffna youth and Briefing of the programme 8.30 pm Dinner at houses of the villagers
2nd Day - 05th June 2010 6.00 am Bed Tea 7.00 am Break-fast 8.00 am Visit to Naga Viharaya to discuss with Buddhist monks 9.15 am Discussion with the Christian Priests of Jaffna 10.15 am Tea 10.30 am Discussion with Jaffna war affected women 11.30 am Site seeing in Jaffna city – Thuraippa Stradium, Nallur Kovill, Jaffna library 1.30 pm Lunch at Mallaham 2.45 pm Site seeing in Keerimalei and Thillipalai 4.00 pm Tea 4.30 pm Entertainment 6.00 pm Rest 7.00 pm Day’s review and announcements 8.00 pm Dinner
3rd Day - 06th June 2010 6.00 am Bed Tea 7.30 am Break-fast 8.00 am Shramadhana at Uruthirapuram 10.00 am Tea 10.30 am Continue the Shramadhana 01.00 pm Lunch 2.00 pm Get-together and cultural event 3.30 pm Discussion with Muslim Community 6.00 pm Arrival at Chavakachcheri and setting down 7.00 pm Day’s review and announcements 8.00 pm Dinner
4th Day – 07th June 2010 6.30 am Leaving from Chavakachcheri 8.00 am Break-fast and Site seeing in Kilinochchi 10.30 am Visit to Re-settlement village (IDP’s) in Vavuniya 1.00 pm Lunch at Anuradhapura 8.00 pm Departure to Colombo Central Bus Stand
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 08 July 2010 16:45 |
