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| Sunday, 30 April 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Children of
war in Vavuniya build a Foundation for peace
by Aditha Dissanayake
If you see the eyes of an eighty-year-old staring at you from the face of an eight year old, what would you do? (a) give him a hug (b) ruffle his hair and ask his name (c) walk away? If you had been at the Seth Sevana Children's Home on 8th April 9th 2006 you probably would have done none of the above, for Darshana, the shy three year old boy in front of you would have hidden himself behind the robes of his "Thaththa", at your appearance. He is only one among the 83 children at the Home who were showered with gifts, hugs and an overdose of love, when the Photo Department of ANCL visited them before the New Year. The 'Thaththa' of the eighty children, the Venerable Etambagaskada Kalyanatissa Thero of Sri Sumangalaramaya Etambagaskada does not wish the world to call his children orphans. He is there isn't he, to look after them? So how could they be called orphans? Wiping the nose of one of the children affectionately with his robe, and ruffling his hair, Kalyanatissa Thero explains that the home he started in 1993 with a destitute baby of eighteen months, he had called Shakthi now provides shelter to eighty three children between the ages of seven months to twenty-three years, regardless of their ethnic or religious differences. But the Home, though a registered charity receives no assistance from the government at present and most of the basic necessities are supplied mainly by a few well-wishers, the Security Forces and the Police in Vavuniya, on a day-to-day basis.
With the war seemingly about to begin once more, the Home will be facing greater difficulties in the future. "We need rice to feed the children" stresses Kalyanatissa Thero. It is with difficulty that the children are fed all three meals of the day. Even though the midday meal is often substantial breakfast and dinner are meagre affairs. But every effort is made not to send the children to bed with hungry stomachs. It is difficult not to be moved by the way the children are cared for by the Thero, his sixty-six year old mother and the few well-wishers and donors, with the children chipping in with the household work whenever they are free. Seven year old Deleep who is Tamil but likes Buddhism the most among the subjects he learns in school, says that everyday after finishing his homework, he sweeps the compound and waters the plants. His friend Supun who has been in the camp for two years says, after completing his studies at Katumankulum Vidyalaya he hopes to find a job as a banker. Looking at the children clutching the soft toys, clothes and books generously gifted by the Pettah Textile Merchants Association, Chanjal Delsalle, France, Nestle Lanka Limited, Ayurvedha Research Institute, Navinna, Sandaruwan Karunathilaka of Sakura Trade Centre and Nandana Garments, Makola it seems that at least during the Avurudu season the noble endeavour of Kalyanatissa Thero in caring for the large number of children who have become destitute due to the war, without ethnic or religious discrimination have been appreciated. These Sinhala and Tamil children living together as one family with Venerable Kalyanatissa Thero are surely laying the foundation for lasting peace. |
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