JDCSI’s two children homes destroyed

Sri Lanka Guardian talked to a church official re the Wanni situation

(February 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Relief workers in Wanni face Herculean tasks to help fleeing civilians, and never ever before has Sri Lanka faced such a horrendous nightmarish situation. Those in the areas of conflict involved in relief work do so at great risks to their lives. It is not only a question of meeting the needs of the victims but also addressing ourselves to their rehabilitation physically and emotionally.

When I spoke to an official from the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India who have a few churches in the Wanni area, he shared with me a letter addressed by the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah, the head of the diocese, to their ecumenical partners working in this area. The letter not only highlights their concerns but also some problems they are facing especially through misrepresentation.

In this letter Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah has said that the situation in Wanni, with the civil war at its fiercest at this moment, is causing a great deal of worry and concerns; indeed it is nightmarish. This, he added is also shared by the international organizations trying their best through their volunteers and whatever resources they have at their disposal to help the victims in large numbers.

According to him, the daily loss of lives is heavy, thousands are at risk as hostages and the damage to infrastructures, properties and farms is incredible. “Both parties have ignored counsel from outside even from such nations as the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Even the UN volunteers are beginning to feel the strain and are threatening to pull out.”

Much damage has been done to two of their centres. “Our children's homes at Shalomnagar and Murikandy,” Bishop Thiagarajah said, “have been destroyed and we are making emergency plans to set up facilities in Vavuniya and later plan permanent facilities which are not possible with so much uncertainty in Wanni. Some of our priests are operating from right in the heart of the disputed region sandwiched between the forces of both parties. We are totally focused on the needs of the victims in our efforts.”

In his letter he further observed: “Conscious of the tremendous rehabilitation work ahead especially in the war-affected areas, we are preparing and training our staff to be able to handle this operation. There is hardly anything we can do at this juncture except to offer relief, medical assistance which stresses our resources immensely and trauma counseling, a great need of the hour, which is being done by my wife Dr Thaya Thiagarajah a professional in this discipline.”

Bishop Thiagarajah also said, “We use our resources, contacts and influence to make our impact felt on the parties involved in this civil war particularly as to how best we can protect civilian lives. The nature of the situation being such and with our staff exposed to danger to life and limb, we have to handle this operation stealthily and with great caution.”

“With so much of problems all around us and our physical and resource capacity and capability strained to the utmost, “Bishop Thiagarajah regretted that they are faced with some peculiar circumstances too. “It appears the name American Ceylon Mission is being used by another group canvassing funds for work in Wanni. The American Ceylon Mission is a body incorporate vested in the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South, of which the bishop of this diocese is the head.”

We learnt that there is an interim court order prohibiting the use of this name by whosoever and for whatsoever purposes for which only the JDCSI has the right as determined by the its constitution. This may be checked with the Secretary of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India who is also the Secretary of the American Ceylon Mission.

Sri Lanka Guardian regrets that such an activity as misrepresentation is being resorted to in a situation where human suffering and devastation is so pronounced and extremely painful and heart-rending.
-Sri Lanka Guardian