A traditional pirith, a Buddhist prayer ceremony, was held to mark the opening of the Islander Center.

To celebrate the opening of Sewlanka’s Islander Center, staff from across the country gathered at Thilaachiya to attend a traditional pirith ceremony and hold an alms giving. For the staff it was an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a center that will be a focal point for Sewalanka’s activities.

The center will provide a unique opportunity for members of the island’s main communities to meet in an agrarian setting. Consisting of a residential section and lecture hall for training purposes, as well as a model organic farm growing rice, bananas and coconuts, it is hoped that Sewalanka staff will regularly gather at the center to share ideas on development. To encourage peace and development, agricultural training programs held at the center will bring together members of communities from across the island. Participants in training programs will learn about the most productive and sustainable farming methods.

It is hoped the Islander Center will serve as a model for several similar centers, which ultimately aim to emphasize the unity and similarities between all island communities that depend on rice and agriculture for survival.