Sewalanka Foundation Chairman's Message

It has been a stormy and challenging year in Sri Lanka. The skies are gray and heavy. We try to move forward, but the pace is slow. The rain and fog affect our vision and it is difficult to see the horizon. We lean into the wind and wade through flood waters. Our feet get stuck in the mud. The streams and rivers are flowing fast, and full of unknown hazards. It takes time to find a safe passage.

From 2002 to 2006, we had a period of clear skies and stable ground. We were able to see farther ahead and move more quickly. During those years, we were able to shift our focus to long-term development goals: strengthening community organizations throughout the country, ecological health and biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods, and building friendships and understanding across ethnic and religious divides. The communities we work with began to stabilize and we developed new services and institutions, like Sewa Finance and SEDCO, to meet their needs.

We are still walking in the same direction with the same commitment, but the political and economic situation has changed. The ceasefire broke down and once again our country has returned to full-blown war. New risks have emerged and new security restrictions have been imposed. People living in the conflict areas have been displaced. Funds have been restricted due to uncertainty and human rights concerns. Inflation has reached record levels. For most of our fiscal year, Sri Lanka had the highest rate of inflation in South and Southeast Asia. In these stormy conditions, each step takes additional time and energy. Our pace has slowed.

Even dark years have bright spots. It is encouraging to see staff members reaching out their hands to steady each other across difficult terrain, even when they do not share a common language. When someone slips, it is encouraging to see how others turn to help. In a time of scarcity and potential competition, it is encouraging to see how organizations have improved their coordination and worked together. We cannot move forward in isolation. As development practitioners, we need to see how we complement each other, how we can learn from each other, and how we can support each other through this stormy period. Challenging times remind us how important it is to work together, and that is why the theme for our Annual Report is "We are all connected."

There have been some positive new connections in the past year. Sewalanka began working more closely with several local civil society organizations and developed new links with international practitioners engaged in similar work. Programs at the Islander Center contributed to new relationships between rural youth and between community leaders from different parts of the country. Language barriers and travel restrictions did not prevent religious leaders from strengthening and expanding their networks. In 2007 and 2008, we saw Buddhist monks, Hindu priests, Christian fathers and Muslim moulavi visit each other, assist each other, and organize joint programs together. This sense of human connection give us hope and energy to move forward.

Looking back at this challenging year, it is easy to feel frustrated. Instead of moving quickly towards a long-term goal on the horizon, we are forced to look down and watch every step. The short-term emergencies of a slippery and difficult terrain absorb our energy. Still when we turn around and look at the path we have navigated, we can feel proud. We have passed through many challenges over the past year, but we are still moving forward, holding hands, and reaching out to others.

May the coming year bring sunshine and hope for our country, our partners, and our friends.

Harsha Kumara Navaratne
Chairman
Sewalanka Foundation