My Centre for Better Society in Jaffna / நற் சமூக நடு நிலையம்

 

CENTRE FOR BETTER SOCIETY



நற் சமூக நடு நிலையம்

 

115, 4th Cross Street, Jaffna

 

 

 

 

In 1986 Sept. I went from Kandy to Jaffna as the second Rector of St.Francis Xavier's Major Seminary in Jaffna. (This Major seminary was started by Bishop Deogupillai of Jaffna, because after the 1983 riots against the Tamils, it was not safe enough for Tamil students to do their whole theological studies at the National Seminary in Kandy. Ist pioneer and first Rector was Fr. Philip Ponniah.)

 

Realising the importance of all religions contributing their share for the welfare of the Tamil man in Jaffna, I thought of a Centre for inter-religious collaboration for the welfare of man. I had already known the Centre for Society and Religion founded by Fr. Tissa Balasuriya omi doing good work of Christian Engagement in politics.

 

I wanted this Centre to encourage all to light up their small lamps for the welfare of all, irrespective of any religious or social rank.

 

I got Bishop Deogupillai, Bishop Ambalavanar of the CSI church,  Nallatheenam Kurukkal of Nallur and a teacher from Muslim Osmania College as the 4 Patrons for my Centre of religious collaboration.  I rented a house 115, 4th Cross Street Jaffna for a rent of Rs.500/-. I took over a Tamil Journal started by Fr.Selvaratnam omi, the New World - Puthiya Ulakam - as ist Editor. The house was furnished sufficiently for our Meetings and books. 

 

Our Committee consisted of about 10 People and we started our Meetings with a prayer of silence.

we organised week-end seminars with the help of the Jaffna University staff and other prominent citizens.

when important Sinhala leaders visited Jaffna, they were invited to to give Talks in English - eg. Prof. Jeyadeva Uyangoda, Bishop Charles Abeyasekera who came for the last round of LTTE-SLG talks.

 

Our concerns were organising lectures and seminars related to education, health Service, Computer science, teaching blind to read- Grail, etc

 

Unfortunately we had to close this venture in 1995.