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THE MONTHLY PLANNING MEETING
(HELD AT THE JUBILEE HALL ON 24TH MAY
2007.)
For the
first time Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo had invited 35 Grama
Niladaris from the Western Province who had helped and
assisted during the time of the Tsunami, and even to date
they assist mainly in house building and other activity
programmes pertaining to the Tsunami/Seth Sarana Projects.
Before the
commencement of the meeting the Project Manager Mr Frank
Anthony welcomed the Grama Niladaris and other participants
who came from Kalutara, Negombo and Moratuwa.
It was
pleasing to note that Buddhists and Catholics were seated
together to participate in this meeting.
Mr Frank
Anthony then introduced the Seth Sarana Director Rev Fr
Jude Raj Fernando to the Grama Niladaris. Thereafter in his
address he said that he appreciated the services rendered by
these officers. He briefly explained to the Grama Niladaris
how SEDEC and Seth Sarana were started. He mentioned to them
that this was neither an NGO nor an INGO; this was
originated in the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Here he
mentioned that some of the past Directors who served in
SEDEC and Seth Sarana.. Rev Fr Joe Fernando was the founder
Director of SEDEC. Fr Jude Raj said that there are 15
Deanery Development Coordinators and that they have to serve
127 parishes.
At that
moment Rev Fr Sunil de Silva, Secretary to the Archbishop
arrived and he was introduced to the participants.
Fr Jude
mentioned that Caritas Germany and Caritas Italy are the
facilitating partners who collaborate with Caritas Colombo.
Caritas Colombo has built 1997 houses in the Archdiocese of
Colombo which is not known to many. This is a good
opportunity for the
Grama
Niladari officers to know the actual position. Caritas
Colombo has been in the forefront of helping the Tsunami
beneficiaries in the Western Province.
Many
beneficiaries have been helped to restart their livelihood
and have been provided community infra structure facilities
as well as training and capacity building. Two Grama
Niladaris said this is the only organization that had
invited them even at this late stage to thank them for their
hard work which they appreciated very much
Thereafter
Fr Director introduced the staff members who are responsible
for various tasks and if the participants needed any
information they could contact those staff members.
They said
that in future Seth Sarana and Grama Niladaris could work
together with a good understanding.
Finally Fr
Sunil Siva spoke and said that, His Grace the Archbishop
Oswald Gomis and the Archdiocese appreciates the
co-operation of the Gramasevaka Officers, specially during
Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation projects, in providing us
necessary information and helping us to get the necessary
approval of the government to proceed with the projects
that the Archdiocese initiated for the benefit of the
people. In the first stage of the tsunami relief work, since
there was no organizes structure on the government side to
co-ordinate the assistance of the donor, we also had to run
around different government departments and eventually we
lost lot foreign assistance.
At the end
of the Programme, Fr Sunil Silva on behalf of the
Archbishop, distributed some tokens of appreciation to Grama
Niladaris in gratitude for their valuable services
rendered at the Tsunami.
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