8 February-

Sri Lanka- a national holiday of independence

The Independence Day celebrations (last Friday) were less about celebration and more about marking a countries commitment to mourning its losses and momentum for a strong recovery. How will this work? I have real fear that the world may arrive to create a future, which might have little resemblance to Sri Lankan’s hopes for its own future.

Picture a small village on the coast. In December there were two NGO’s working with community capacity. One month later, there are 53 (International None Governmental Organizations (INGOs) from 18+ nations. In Ampara, people are falling over themselves to find housing, vehicles, food, and such a huge outpouring of good will, perhaps enough to overwhelm the community?

What I fear are getting missed are local groups, such as AHIMSA, who sit in a meeting with others discussing psycho/social work with children who experienced trauma. The California facilitator could easily be replaced with Monica who has lots of experience and training and with Sri Lankan children. She does not need to ask, “What is the equivalent of a hamburger and fries in Sri Lanka?” as she lives this life, these are her people. A large INGO is funding a new program in ADR. They bring in a trainer who begins with discussions of “What is conflict?” Monica and AHIMSA produced such training and had it published, funded by this same INGO, in 2003. Why is the training not provided by AHIMSA?

Well the answer to that is that this INGO amalgamated with another organization under the same larger INGO, with upheaval of staff, projects and organization. Now, 7 more organizations are coming on board. 180 new staff will mean focus on peace education and conflict transformation will take a back seat to relief. What happens to Peace and Conflict Transformation in the overwhelming out pouring of funding for relief?


I wrote of our visit to Batticoloa last weekend. We saw wild elephants, monkeys, eagles, egrets, king fishers and storks and this is a beautiful land, striving to grow and integrate the diversity of its people, landscape, livelihoods, economic conditions and environmental challenges. This moment of time when the world is focused on Sri Lanka and other Tsunami damaged countries, can Sri Lanka hold on to its vision of a future, its possibilities and options and not let others take over?

I have been asked several times, which groups are being helpful and effective in contributing to the countries well being and recovery? I have been told three times about Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) the Canadian military’s program, which has the capacity of making fresh water for countless villages and communities. So I will highlight them. On a smaller scale, I know AHIMSA as a group who work together with communities on the ground to provide real support to children and families.

In the East, there is the fear that children may be taken as child soldiers, and those who recruit them, can easily make the point that there is nothing there for the children. Perhaps a back pack with notebooks, pens, mathematical sets and school supplies will not be enough, but it is a concrete example of a real need being met, in real time. And it is the beginning of longer term community building toward a deeper relationship and peace and conflict transformation skills.

Several of you have tried to connect with the blog and asked for an email address. Please email me at marthamcmanus@hotmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.
The wonderful world of three-wheelers and flying around holes in the road and squeezing between trucks, white relief vehicles and buses is increasing challenges with more traffic. Also for those of you who were here before when I was in 2003, the hotels we stayed at for 35$US last time are now 95-120$US/night. (Out of reach in rupees, US dollars and forget Canadian conversion!) I went with three VSO staff to a bar and listened to a lovely voice, sounding just like Ella Fitzgerald, and band. The singer was a short pony tailed young Sri Lankan man, with a wonderful voice. I look forward to more nights of Lion beer and this amazing voice plays unplugged on Mondays!