Equal in Dignity of all Persons

| by A Special Correspondent in Colombo

( September 09, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) With the theme “Equal in Dignity of all Persons", Thirty Three priests and religious, from north and south of Sri Lanka gathered for a workshop from the 30th July to the 02nd August 2012 at Santhana Retreat House in Galaha Kandy Sri Lanka. Mr. Philip Setunga facilitated the workshop that was organized by the Human Rights Office Kandy. The participants from different parts of the country were with experience working with detainees, prisoners and Human Rights activists defending and safeguarding the marginalized and those affected by the civil war.

The group divided itself into two for the exposure that was had on the 31st July.

* Visiting the Torture victims /persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) around Balagolla and Teldeniya Area.

* Visiting the worker at Asgiriya estate in Matale district.

All participants introduced themselves with the work they were engaged in, especially the recent experiences that they had in protecting the Rights of different communities. There was a long discussion about the situation of the people of Mullikulam and further the resolutions of the last workshop held in Madhu were also reviewed.

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations were studied and how they could be carried forward by the members of the church was also discussed. Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton and Mr. Rukshan Fernando made power point presentation on the LLRC.

The Biblical overview on salvation of both body and soul was explained by Dr. Shirley Wijesinghe and God's revelation through historical process was enumerated with examples from the book of Exodus

It was the occasion, as expressed by some of the participants, for each one to express freely and in a constructive manner the realities lived, challenges faced, reactions emitted and hopes held out as members of the believing community. All the sharing is reflected in the resolutions adopted at the end of the meeting.

They are;

Get the religious personnel And the enlightened Christians, particularly from the south of the country to visit the displaced Mullikulam people.

Popularize the Recommendations found in the LLRC Information useful and relevant for submissions to UNHRC to be collected.

Listing of political detainees and whenever possible to communicate the information to the members of their families.

Make a list of the camps, particularly in the north and the east of the country, of the army, navy and the air-force.

Organize informal meeting of the persons (directors) working in the domain of human rights among the plantation workers.

Make an effort to sign online petitions issued by the members of our group, particularly the ones sent by Fr. Nandana Manatunga and Ruki Fernando.

The next workshop scheduled in Madhu.