Amid reports of suicide bombings and shelling going on in Sri Lanka, a diminutive man steps up on a podium at the George Ignatieff theatre at the University of Toronto in Canada. He is surrounded by the ambassadors and councilors for Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan; respected academics and University Presidents; all assembled in solemn procession to celebrate a lifetime of enlightened service to a country and people badly in need not only of the barest necessities of life, but a compassionate vision that strives toward unity and acceptance of one and all. In his soft yet vibrant voice he reminds us all that before attempting to change the world, we must change ourselves: “Metta” he tells us, is the practice of compassionate action towards all living beings. “Respect all life”, says Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne and the tragic irony of his words is not lost on us.
With the events of the last few weeks ending with the attempt on the life of the Sri Lanka Army Commander yesterday, the conflict has escalated to the level of the involvement of armed forces in direct action including the use of air borne offensives. This has led to an increase level of disturbances on civilian life and creating large displacements. As an immediate measure Sarvodaya will, in addition to calling all parties to refraining from further violence, respond to the needs of the affected communities and provide support for refugee camps within its recourses to care for the affected people.
On 5th and 6th May, 2006, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement will host a workshop at its Moratuwa Headquarters for the capacity-building of Telecentre operators from throughout Sri Lanka.
On 29th March, President Mahinda Rajapakse ceremonially declared open the Distance e-Learning (DeL) centers that were set up at the Sarvodaya District Centers in Mahanuwara and Hambantota. The centers were opened at the auspicious time of 4.30 in the afternoon by the president who connected online with the centers from his official residence, Temple Trees, in Colombo. The Governor of the Central Province also participated in the ceremony.
In the first weekend of April, the Sarvodaya Nagarodhaya Center hosted a planning meeting to launch a disaster mitigation project sponsored by the IDRC. Titled “Strengthening Resilience in Tsunami-affected Communities: Coastal Bioshields, Livelihood Development, and Village Knowledge Centers in India and Sri Lanka,” this project was designed in response to the disastrous tidal wave of [...]
The University of Toronto in Canada has selected Dr A. T. Ariyaratne (Founder & President) of the Sarvodaya Movement to receive the “Acharya Sushil Kumar International Peace Award” for the year 2005.
During the year 2003, Prof. Joan Tolengy received the International Peace Award, while in the year 2004, His Holiness Dalai Lama received the International Peace Award. The third personality who has been selected to receive this Award is Dr A. T. Ariyaratne.
Thirty houses in Galle district were ceremonially handed over to Tsunami-affected families in the villages of Akurala and Kahawa. Funded by Marks and Spencer with the support of Care International, these houses were built by the community led by the Sarvodaya Shramadana Society as part of the movement’s post-Tsunami reconstruction work.