We serve: Helping War Widows in Sri Lanka

War Widows in Sri Lanka

In  Spring 2011, we introduced our Lenten Mission and Outreach theme with an adult ed presentation by Ruba Gnanaratnam who shared her story of empowering women and families in Sri Lanka. Her talk and
slideshow portrayed life in Sri Lanka before, during and after the British colonial rule when the
Sinhala government dominated and discriminated against the minority Tamils. Repeated ethnic violence
on the Tamils in the south continued with vandalizing homes, looting goods and killings over a period of 30 yrs. where 200,000 people died. 

In August 2010 Ruba visited her homeland in the north of Sri Lanka. Bishop Daniel Thiyagrajah and the priest of the JDCSI helped her to visit places, families and projects started by the diocese. She was horrified to see the devastation and destruction of her people and land. She spoke to many war widows and orphan children. The Palmyra Project is part of the VCT, Vocational Training Center and is now making a difference in the north of Sri Lanka. Ruba is advocating to help the war widows build their lives back and succeed believing that: Many things are possible with faith, commitment and prayer.