Mahakanda Development Project (1976-1979)
In addition to the regular workcamps we also undertook several medium and long term projects for the promotion of peace and racial harmony. One such project was the Mahakanda Development project which was implemented during the period August 1976 to December 1979.
Makanda is a little village about 10 Km away from Kandy in central Sri Lanka. Here lived at the edge of an abandoned tea estate 79 Tamil families who where the former resident labor force of an abandoned tea estate. When race riots broke out in the country in August 1976 thugs from the adjoining Sinhala villagers came and attacked these Tamils. Their houses were damaged and the few personal posessions they had were also destroyed or looted by the mob. The residents ran away, carrying their children, and hid in the adjoining jungle for several days without food or shelter. Even though Tamils who lived in the urban areas were provided protection and shelter in temporary refugee camps, these people had no place to go. When SCI came to know of the situation we mobilized our members and collected essential food items and cooking utensils, clothing and visited the site. As we had within our membership Sinhalese as wall as Tamils we were able to establish a dialogue with the village leaders and the affected community, and form a vigilant committee who assured the Tamils that they could return to their homes and that they would be protected. After the immediate relief operation the need to repair the damaged houses was the next urgent requirement. Our appeal for funds found favor with the National Christian Council and were able to repair the houses through several workcamps involving both the communities. This process brought about lot of understanding between the communities. To further strengthen the ties we started several short-term income generating projects like vegetable and paddy cultivation, poultry and dairy farming for the youth of both communities on a co-operative basis and they were essentially forced to work together for the common benefit. This further cemented the ties. The acid test for our peace experiment came in 1983 when almost all Tamils through out the country were attacked or subject to intimidation of some degree. We are glad to report that the Mahakanda Tamil community escaped unharmed and they were protected by their Sinhala neighbours. This could be sighted as a rare success story.
Makanda is a little village about 10 Km away from Kandy in central Sri Lanka. Here lived at the edge of an abandoned tea estate 79 Tamil families who where the former resident labor force of an abandoned tea estate. When race riots broke out in the country in August 1976 thugs from the adjoining Sinhala villagers came and attacked these Tamils. Their houses were damaged and the few personal posessions they had were also destroyed or looted by the mob. The residents ran away, carrying their children, and hid in the adjoining jungle for several days without food or shelter. Even though Tamils who lived in the urban areas were provided protection and shelter in temporary refugee camps, these people had no place to go. When SCI came to know of the situation we mobilized our members and collected essential food items and cooking utensils, clothing and visited the site. As we had within our membership Sinhalese as wall as Tamils we were able to establish a dialogue with the village leaders and the affected community, and form a vigilant committee who assured the Tamils that they could return to their homes and that they would be protected. After the immediate relief operation the need to repair the damaged houses was the next urgent requirement. Our appeal for funds found favor with the National Christian Council and were able to repair the houses through several workcamps involving both the communities. This process brought about lot of understanding between the communities. To further strengthen the ties we started several short-term income generating projects like vegetable and paddy cultivation, poultry and dairy farming for the youth of both communities on a co-operative basis and they were essentially forced to work together for the common benefit. This further cemented the ties. The acid test for our peace experiment came in 1983 when almost all Tamils through out the country were attacked or subject to intimidation of some degree. We are glad to report that the Mahakanda Tamil community escaped unharmed and they were protected by their Sinhala neighbours. This could be sighted as a rare success story.
