Two activities were organized by Puttalam District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) to raise awareness on the effects of drug use and the importance of inter-ethnic harmony. A training session on making palmyra leaf handicrafts was also held under NPC’s Plural Action for Conflict Transformation (PACT).
The Sinhala and Muslim communities in the area were still suspicious of each other because the issues of reconciliation after the war have not been addressed; they stayed away from each other because there were no opportunities to interact.
Drug use was a problem and incidents of child abuse were on the rise. The economic crisis had added to disputes within families while some businesses have collapsed because people from one community would not purchase goods from shops owned by the other community.
In order to bring the two communities together and promote peace and harmony, a rally was organized on the theme of eradicating drugs and creating a drug free society by local government women members and youth who trained under the PACT project, with the participation of religious leaders.
Eighty one participants including religious leaders, government officials, parents and students joined the rally with placards carrying anti-drug slogans. At a meeting after the rally, a statement was handed over to Puttalam District Additional Secretary Mr. Ravindra Wickramasinghe and Puttalam District Assistant Inspector General of Police S. M. Y. Senaviratne.
Another awareness session on risks and effects of drug use and a training programme on palmyra leaf handicrafts were organized in Wanathavilluwa by Puttalam DIRC for 73 participants. A shramadana with the participation of all communities was held to clean temple premises in the area as an opportunity for people to come together and improve understanding and friendship. “We haven’t had a programme like this in our village before. When I went to the temple, a Muslim youth was sweeping inside. It is good to have all communities together, working and learning collectively to get rid of dislike and to build trust and unity,” a participant said.