News

Monaragala District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) supplied Rs. 146,000 worth of dry food rations to one children’s home and one home for differently abled people. The funds to purchase the dry rations were provided to NPC by the Canadian government through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and supply and distribution was implemented through Monaragala DIRC.

Matara District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) supplied dry food rations to six homes for elders and the differently-abled, which had not received any assistance from other organizations. The DIRC worked with the District Secretariat, which provided a list of families who were struggling without supplies because of the curfew imposed to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Kandy District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) handed over Rs. 100,000 worth of dry rations to five children’s and elders’ homes in the district. The funds to purchase the dry rations were provided to NPC by the Canadian government through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and supply and distribution was implemented through Kandy DIRC.

Polonnaruwa District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) distributed Rs. 51,000 worth of dry food rations to a home for people with special needs and a children’s home. The funds to purchase the dry rations were provided to NPC by the Canadian government through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and supply and distribution was implemented through Polonnaruwa DIRC.

Kegalle District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) handed over Rs. 99,000 worth of dry rations to five children’s homes, elders’ homes and long term care facilities. The funds to purchase the rations were provided to NPC by the Canadian government through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and supply and distribution was implemented through Kegalle DIRC.

Members of the Negombo Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) supplied 98 packs of dry rations to needy families in the area with funds provided by NPC and distributed them in collaboration with Social Development Services Foundation and the Divisional Secretariat of Negombo. The initiative is supported by Misereor.

One hundred families on the Horamula estate in Rakwana in the Ratnapura District were provided dry rations under an initiative of the Rakwana Local Inter Religious Committee in collaboration with Godakawela Divisional Secretariat and NPC partner’s organization, Environment and Community Development Centre.

To assist low income families and Buddhist clergy affected by the curfew imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Akurana Local Inter Religious Committee, with the collaboration of Alawathugoda Police and NPC’s partner organization Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya, distributed 200 packs of vegetables to 16 temples in Akurana and to poor villagers in the area.

NPC, through the Vavuniya Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) and the Rural Development Foundation of Vavuniya, identified 105 disadvantaged families from nine rural villages in need of ration packs. The relief effort was supported by Misereor.

NPC is working through its 16 District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) to implement a Covid-19 relief programme providing dry rations to those hardest hit by the prevailing curfew and the inability to earn daily wages to feed their families. Each district has been allocated Rs. 100,000 for this purpose to supply Rs. 2,000 worth of rations to each family.

Members of the Weligama Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) supplied 100 packs of dry rations to ten needy families in the area.

Master trainers under NPC’s project Technical Assistance to Justice Institutions in Sri Lanka working in 10 districts across the country are collaborating with government officials to fight the spread of Covid-19 using the strong network they have built with among NGOs and the private sector within the district.

Three solidarity visits were held in Kurunagala, Hambantota and Polonnaruwa under NPC’s project Actively Countering Extremism supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

The Human Rights First Aid Centre in Gampaha (HRFAC) has initiated a special complaint receiving mechanism for people to raise their concerns arising from the Covid-19 crisis and the ensuing curfew.

Several members of Addalachenai Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) have joined forces to design an emergency response and disaster management plan that can be implemented to deal with the Covid 19 crisis that is gripping the country.

Members of the National Peace Council’s District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) across the country have been reaching out to disadvantaged people in their areas who are unable to access essential supplies due to lack of funds and availability caused by the Covid-19 crisis and the ensuing curfew.