Diocese of Colombo is bringing women together
The civil war in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 but for many people – especially women from the defeated Tamil community – the wounds are still raw.
In response, supported by the Anglican mission agency USPG, the Diocese of Colombo’s Reconciliation and Peace Desk is running a series of workshops at which war widows can find solace and practical help.
One young woman told her story. At the age of 16 she had been forced to marry a soldier in the Tamil Tigers liberation army. Her parents hoped it might afford her some protection during the fighting. But the woman’s husband was killed, leaving her alone to look after a three-year-old child.
‘I am now 20 years old,’ the woman said. ‘My mother-in-law doesn’t want me in her house because her husband is no longer here. My father is ill. My mother doesn’t want to look after me because she also has a small child. I don’t know what to do.’
Workshop facilitator Juliet Christeena said: ‘When the event finally got underway, the women began to express their bitter experiences.
Some of the things they shared were extremely complex. The helplessness of the women was very evident to us. But they felt relieved having shared their feelings. We also held a session to identify their talents and strengths, and they told us we had given them a sense of hope to move forward.’
The first workshops were held at the Church of Holy Spirit, in Vavuniya. In attendance were 35 Hindu and Christian women from the Manik Farm camp for Internally Displaced Persons. Women from the church congregation – themselves facing many hardships – also took part and made friends with the war widows.
Juliet said: ‘Here was a situation where little-privileged women from the congregation were trying to be in solidarity with gravely-affected widows. It was a symbol of solidarity. We hope they will continue to support each other.’
From USPG