Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, situated off the southern coast of India, is an island nation in South Asia. It is known for its natural beauty – tropical forests, sandy beaches, and landscapes- as well as for its rich cultural history. The country has one of the best social development indicators in South Asia, with over 91% of population literate. However, it ranks 102nd on 2009 Human Development Index (HDI) with almost 40% population that lives on less than $2 a day. Sri Lanka suffered from civil war for more than two decades and only in May 2009, Government of Sri Lanka declared victory for Liberation Tigers Tamil Elam (LTTE), a rebel group, fighting for a separate homeland for Tamil population. In 2004, Sri Lanka suffered from tsunami, which killed over 30,000 people.
Sarvodaya USA supports various initiatives in Sri Lanka through Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, country’s largest grassroots organization, that serves 15,000 communities. Currently, Sarvodaya USA is supporting relief and resettlement programs for people displaced by the war, women empowerment programs, and orphanages. Our previous work included major relief and rebuilding effort after the tsunami, which benefited thousands of people who survived the disaster.
Featured Stories
Experience Sri Lanka With Sarvodaya
The New York Times called Sri Lanka the Number 1 Destination among “The 31 Places to Go in 2010.” Sarvodaya USA is offering a 10 day trip to Sri Lanka in October. Experience the real beauty of Sri Lanka and see one of the world’s largest community development organizations in action.
Relief and Rehabilitation in Post-War Sri Lanka
In May, 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). The LTTE was a rebel group fighting for what they called a separate homeland for the Tamil people. Over 300,000 people were displaced by the war. Sarvodaya has been supporting thousands of people in relief camps and supporting rehabilitation efforts.
A Former Child Soldier Finds Livelihood
Krishna, 19, is from a small community in eastern Sri Lanka. In 2005, a rebel group asked his family if one of the children from the family could join the group. They refused.
