Service Civil International - Sri Lanka

SCI Sri Lanka has played a significant role in promoting peace, intercultural and inter-ethnic understanding in Sri Lanka. We worked tirelessly and relentlessly against the war and violence and did everything within our means to promote a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict. Our main tool has been the tried and tested workcamp. Every year we organized 10-15 short terms camps of 6-8 weeks duration and a large number of weekend services. Participants for these services, numbering about 25-30, were drawn from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities and very often they were joined by international participants from Asia, Europe, America and Australia. At all these camps we had an essential study component on the ethnic conflict. We obtained the services of expert resource persons from the University of Peradeniya and other like minded NGOS. Local communities where the workcamps were held also participated in these exercises. Our experience has proved that workcamps are still an effective and practical method to bring people of diverse ethnicity, races, nationality, color and creed together. The degree of comaraderie and friendship that was established at the end of every programme was very striking. Language was no barrier. Nor was nationality or gender or age a problem. Only a handful could speak or understand each others language BUT it posed no problem because they were communicating very well. The presence of the foreign participants has contributed immensely in the integration process.

See : Mahakanda development Project (1976-1979)