Commemoration of International Migrants' Day 2012

The international migrants' day which falls on the 18th December was commemorated on the 08th December from 09.30 a.m. to 02.30 p.m. at the SETIK auditorium.

Mr. Gamini Seneviratna, District Secretary, Kandy was the Chief Guest on this occasion.  The guest speakers addressed the gathering on;

• "Venereal Diseases due to Migration" - Mr. Rathnayake-Lecturer, University of Peradeniya
• "Kafala Law" in the Middle East Countries - Mrs. Shyamali Ranaraja- Attorney-at-Law, Advisor I.L.O.
• "Prevention of Women from Migration who have children below five (05) years - Mrs. Utthara Rupasinghe - Legal Advisor, "SETIK"

A programme for the migrant returnees and their children under the topic of "Spiritual Healing" was conducted by Miss. Shashika Wijeratna - Asst. Psychosocial Counselor attached to Divisional Secretariat, Talatuoya.

Medals and certificates were distributed among the members of 'Rakawarna Hawla' ad the self-employment trainees.  There was also an exhibition and fair of self-employment products declared open by Rev. Fr. Camillus D. Jansz, Director of 'SETIK' Organization, Kandy.

Awareness Programme for Grama Niladhari

An awareness programme was conducted for 29 Grama Niladhari (officers) who serve within the Akurana Divisional Secretariat from 09.30 a.m. to 01.30 p.m. on 09th November 2012 at the Divisional Secretariat under the theme of "Safe Guarding  the Rights and Dignity of Migrants' and Integrate them into Sri Lankan Society".

Mrs. Padmini Gunasekara, officer-in-charge of Foreign Employment Bureau, Kandy functioned as the resource person.  Mr. Upali Dharmakeerthi represented our organization at this programme.

Programme for Grama Niladhari at Deltota

Another social programme was conducted at the Divisional Secretariat, Deltota on 12th October 2012 pertaining to safe migration, unsafe migration and its adverse effects with the participation of 14 Grama Niladhari officers.

Divisional Secretary and Administrative Grama Niladhari too were among the participants.  Resource person Miss. Harshani Lihiniyakumara in her address described about the migrants' unit and the KAFALA system which exists in the Middle East.

Universal Migrants' Day 2011

Caritas Kandy (SETIK) and the Catholic Commission for Migrants' (Diocese of Kandy) joined their hands together to commemorate the Universal Migrants Day on 17th December 2011. It was held at Caritas Kandy (SETIK) auditorium from 9.30 am to 2.00 pm.

The Chairman of our Institution and the Bishop of Kandy Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando was the chief guest of the ceremony. The objective of the programme was to safeguard the rights of the children and enlighten the public about the miserable life of the children, due to the migration of their mothers.

Honorable District Secretariat-Kandy and the Senior Superintendent of Police-Gampola police addressed the gathering about the miserable life of children after the migration of their mothers.

In addition, we distributed certificates to the winners of a Debate Competition conducted in connection with the Universal Migrant Day 2011. Finally, the gathering of Migrant Returnees displayed their products in a fair and were able to sell them to the participants.

Let us consider the Migrants as equal citizens of our country.