Events

COVID 19 Experience in Kegalle

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Amidst of COVID 19 pandemic, and bad weather that we experience very badly in our country, our elders are experiencing monotonous way of life. We need to get them out of this way of life. During Vesak festival, usually they go out and enjoy the Vesak decorations and dansal. Our Buddhist elders go to nearby temples and observe sil. Unfortunately due to this pandemic situation they are forced to stay inside. What could we do to take them out from this monotonous experience?

Yes, on the 25th of May (pre poya day) we arranged one of the Buddhist monks to visit our home and our Buddhist elders to observe sil.

We also made them to prepare Vesak decorations and decorated our home with lanterns.
On Vesak poya day we organized a Vesak dansal for all the meals and our priests opened the three main dansal. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We organized dansal without their knowledge. They were thrilled and enjoyed everything.
Especially our Buddhist elders were very happy. This is what we need. Everything organized by the sisters.
We know you all who are helping us want to see the happiness of our elders. That is why I want to share these photos with you. Please enjoy with our elders.

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Events

New year celebration in “Meth Mihira”

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Meth Mihira Special Education Centre AwurudhuCelibration 2021

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional new year of the Sinhalese and Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Meth Mihira Special education centre, Moratuwa, recently celebrated Sinhala and Tamil new year on the 8th of April 2021 in the school premises.

        As one of a catholic special need school, the main purpose of celebrating this event was to give a bit of knowledge to the student about the ‘’Dawn customs and traditions’’ follows on this festival. Rev. Fr. Ajith Appuhami, the parish priest of St. Michael’s  church Koralawella, was the chief Guest and Rev. Sr. Antoinette Jayaseeli , (the mother superior) Rev. Sr. Priyanga Gunawardena (sister in charge of the school) ,Ms. Shamanthi , students and parents of Meth Mihira and the parish youth took part in this ceremony.

     Students welcomed the invitees with handfuls of betel and Arathi, giving a prominent place to the Sinhalese and Tamil culture. While boiling milk, everyone was filled with filled hearts full of happiness, and, Rev. Fr. Ajith said the opening prayer to invoke God’s blessings for the New Year celebration. Different customs and traditions as Punyakalaya (Neutral period), preparation of meals, communicating of work, offering betel and worshiping parents and elders, partaking of meals, visiting relations and friends and exchanging new year dishes, anointing the head etc… showed to the students at Gamagedara.(village house)

            This day was more colorful with Awurudu games. The closure of this day marked with a dance of students at Meth Mihira Special Centre. Rev.Fr. Ajith addressed the community and inspired them to value unity and harmony with each other to buildup the school community. All the students were happy as they received new year gifts. Rev.Sr.Priyanga Gunawardena gave the vote of thanks and ended the New Year celebration with National Anthem. It was indeed a happy and beautiful day for all of us at Meth Mihira. May God Bless Meth Mihira!

Events

International Women’s Day

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International women’s Day organized by HRC in Vavuniya

Vavuniya Human Rights Commission organized the International Women’s Day (which is 8th of March) in Vavuniya on 29th March 2021 with a special program including a seminar on “The Impact of Covid19 on Women and Gender Equality”.

The chief guest of the event was Mrs. Stanley de Mel GA Mannar. Professor Vinothan RDHS Mannar, Mrs. Nalajini Inparaj Planning Director North Province, and Mrs. Sakeela Banu Assistant director of Agriculture, Mannar were special guests who conducted the seminar.

The chief Guest Mrs. Stanley de Mel spoke on the Impact of Covid19 on Women. She spoke on the creation of women. She narrated the following. God created the whole world with one word. “Let there be light” and there was light and so on. But when he created a woman he took some time unlike other creation. One person went to God and asked why he took some time to create a woman and God said because the woman is very special. The man asked what the specialty in her. God said she is very patient like mother earth and bears all the suffering of everyone in the society. When she gets ill she treats herself but when others fall sick she takes care of them. She is the jack of all traits

The man touched the skin of the woman and said but she is very feeble and soft and God said she is feeble only in the body but in the spirit she is very strong. Again the man touched her cheek and said her cheek is wet and God said because she weeps taking upon her the pains and sorrows of others. Finally the man asked then what the weak point in her is; and God said she is not aware of her worth and all the goodness in her. She is not aware of her capacity and strength and the tremendous contribution she makes to the society. The GA wounded up her talk saying the women must realize who they are and their capacity and also learn to accept and respect the other women.

Dr. Vinothan spoke on the impact of covid19 on the health of the women and said the women have faced the whole brunt of covid19. Due to the pandemic the education, transport, employment and spiritual life suffered but it is the women who faced the hardship. They have to care for the children, tolerate everybody at home and do house chores all by themselves. Women who are bread winners suffered much due to the pandemic. Due to unemployment everybody stayed at home and it was the responsibility of women to keep the family going.

Mrs. Sakeela spoke on the impact of covid19 on education and employment and shared that again it is the women who were affected most in these fields.

It was a very meaningful seminar and useful workshop for the women. There was a discussion after the input and the participants gave their feedback. It was well organized and participants came from various categories namely; the NGOs, Women organizations, students, nurses, trainees and Government officers.

Sr. Jacintha Gabriel and myself participated in the seminar and benefitted much. It was a chance to interact with organizations, NGOs and committed lay people. I like the point of the GA on the creation of women. This is the first time I heard this explanation. She spoke more than this and elaborated with another story but I mentioned this as this is the crux of the matter.

Events

Black Sunday

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Sri Lankan Roman Catholic Church officials have declared a “Black Sunday” on March 7 to demand justice for the victims of 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks. The bombings had killed more than 260 people.

Church leaders have asked their congregations to attend Mass on Sunday dressed in black. Church bells will toll at 8: 45 a.m., the time of the near-simultaneous attacks, and special prayers will be offered for justice for the victims.

The Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, from different communities also joined with the Church and gave their support.