Villages United: A Sri-Lankan Tale

During the height of Sri Lanka’s civil war an incident between two neighboring villages captured the extent of ethnic rivalries within the war-torn island. On the 12^th August 1990, Muslims from the village of Samanthurei in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka attacked the Tamil village of Weeramuni killing nearly 200 men, women and children. After the attack enmity between the two villages remained intense; the only interaction coming through sporadic eruptions of violence. As a memorial the Tamils of Weeramuni built a statue of a woman carrying a child that served as a constant reminder of the atrocities committed against them and perpetuated their ill feelings towards the rival village.

As a result of the unstable situation between the villages both were included in a 2008 NCA Project organized by Sarvodaya (the long established and largest NGO in Sri Lanka) that aimed to improve the leadership skills of youths affected by the war. During the programme, the youths selected from the two villages, Ms. T Sri. Wadani of the Tamil village and Ms. I Rinosha of the Muslim village, struck up a very close friendship and took on board much of what was taught as part of the project. On returning to their respective villages, both founded Shanthi Sena youth organizations that aimed to educate and improve the awareness of the locals through teachings and activities. Despite the obstacles facing them, the girls managed to maintain their friendship and against all odds organized a youth exchange programme in August of 2009, similar to the one they themselves had attended, in the Tamil village of Weeramuni. The programme was attended by youths from both villages and also from other parts of Sri Lanka including Kaluttara, Galle and Polonnaruwa.

The exchange programme worked to improve relations between the two villages and gradually the communities began interacting with each other. One of the most significant acts of the rehabilitation process was the joint effort of both the Sinhala and Muslim youths in cleaning up the Kovil in Weeramuni and its’ adjoining cemetery; symbolic because it is an area usually permitted only to Hindus and because it was here that the first outbreaks of violence begun in 1990. A Tamil teacher captured the changing mood of the local villagers when he expressed that this day was the “happiest of his life” and was full of praise for the efforts of youths from the different communities.

The camp ended on an emotional note and the participants bade farewell. The aftermath of the event has seen the people of the two villages exchange visits and the relationship between them dramatically improve. The change can be credited to the indefatigable effort of these two girls from the two villages. Remaining humble however, they consider it a victory for the people who were prepared to put aside previous differences and enact real change by trying to understand and accept one another.

Both girls continue to work to improve the situation between their villages. Wadani is now Sarvodaya society secretary for Weeramuni and Rinosha continues in her role as Shanthi Sena leader. The seeds that were sewn by the two have germinated and the aftermath is a story of gathering the harvest. Their initiatives met with some resistance, not all was well, but with time the idea of harmony and peace have sunk into the heads of even the senior citizens. The cessation of war and the ensuing development work have provided an environment where peace activities have become meaningful, the communities can now live side by side and look to develop partnerships to bring prosperity to both.

Wadani and Rinosha also still share a dream. They feel that the monument built to remember the gruesome events of 1990 should be removed and in its place built a statue commemorating the brother hood, or perhaps more fittingly the sisterhood, of humanity. The villages now share a peaceful co-existence and discussions regarding the removal of the monument are on-going.