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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Rev. S. K. Kadirgamar : 30 years in the service of humanity
Rev. Sathiaseelan Kingsbury Kadirgamar (youngest son of the late Rev. J. W. A. Kadirgamar (Methodist Minister Malaysia) and late Grace Kadirgamar) is marking his 30th year in the ministry in Sri Lanka. In addition to his pastoral ministry in the circuits he was called to serve the oppressed working class and poor people because of his charismatic talents. Thus his attitude and inclination is on the community development. He was the Founder President of the Kallar Y. M. C. A. and the Kallar Fishing Development Society. He pioneered these organisations when he served in Kallar Methodist Circuit from 1976 - 1981. Indigenised Rev. Sathiaseelan Kadirgamar is enriched very much in Liturgical and Indigenised worship. Thus he built in indigenised chapel at Kallar after the heavy cyclone which devastated Church building at Kallar. The Rev. was trained in psychological counselling with special reference to the community development in Christian Counselling Centre Vellore, South India, so that he could effectively contribute to the upliftment of the urban community. The Rev. Kadirgamar had the opportunity to serve in Vadamarachchy in the Jaffna District during the traumatic and tumultuous war situation as minister and circuit superintendent and also minister of Methodist Church Point-Pedro Koddaively Circuit. Though he and his family had undergone terrible experience during the war, such as loss of properties and personal belonging from 1983 - 1989, the reverend lived among the affected displaced people and set up relief and rehabilitation centres in Vadamarachchy. Psychological He had the opportunity to attend to the psychological issues of the people who suffered from trauma in war torn areas. During this period he set up Boys' Homes along with various other community upliftment programs. 1990-91 was the darkest period for his ministry in the Methodist Church Mannar - Murunkan Circuit. Rev. Kadirgamar patiently lived and sustained the Circuit and his service was a great blessing. During this period in Mannar - Murunkan Circuit, Rev. Kadirgamar had the opportunity to be in Oxford University College in Queen Elizabeth House to follow a Summer School Course on psychological issues of the refugees in an international development society. Displaced This gave him further skills to return to Sri Lanka to serve among the displaced people who were affected by war. In 1995 the Church stationed him at Wesley College as a Chaplain and he served there for five years. Since his aptitude and inclination was in counselling he emphasised the importance of counselling in education. The purpose was to ensure that every pupil put forth his best efforts and achieved the highest degree of success he was capable in his educational programme. - A. Thavarjah, Old Boy, Jaffna College. |
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