An event was organized to appreciate the work of Ms. Kesuma Saddak, programme officer of Misereor, in upholding of human rights and fostering of inter-ethnic and inter-religious reconciliation and for her support for NPC.
Ms. Saddak was felicitated by Plural Action for Conflict Transformation (PACT) project Manager Saman Seneviratne, who presented her with a token of appreciation. PACT is funded by Misereor.
NPC Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera said that Ms. Saddak had been part of NPC’s development for the past seven years. He said that NPC’s present stability was an outcome of the funding that Misereor brought in year after year. Dr. Perera recalled how Ms. Saddak had wanted to get to know NPC’s work at first hand when she first made contact with the organization and had travelled to Polonnaruwa to participate in an inter religious committee meeting. She was always receptive to discussing new issues and changes within Sri Lanka and NPC’s approach to dealing with them.
Dr. Perera thanked Ms. Saddak for her flexibility in enabling NPC to use Misereor funds to best advance the objectives of the project they were funding. An example was how Misereor authorised
the repurposing of project funds during the Covid lockdown for the emergency purchases of food rations that were distributed through the inter religious committees to orphanages, elders homes,
disabled people and to needy families identified in collaboration with government administrators.
Ms. Saddak’s presence will be greatly missed although she has promised that Misereor will continue to support NPC.