CPArts Activities in June -July 2007



Thai Pongal Festival 15th January

Thai Pongal is a Tamil Harvest-Thanksgiving Festival which occurs in mid-January. It is believed that it is a messenger of a new dawn of hope. Thus it is also a Festival of hope. It is in this spirit that the CPArts members in all CPArts Centres celebrated this Festival.

Panadura Centre whose members are Buddhists and Singhalese celebrated this Festival by inviting children of all ethnic and religious communities to take part in this Tamil Festival , making it thus a Peace Festival.

In Jaffna, where there was “starvation”, the Festival was marked by prayers for Peace and Harmony. After the religious ceremony, all participants were given breakfast.

In Batticaloa CPArts members celebrated it with Internally Displaced persons

Regional Peace Camps and Peace Excursions

In Batticaloa, a region defined by bloody violence, Batticaloa Centre held a three-day Peace Camp in January (19/20/21) with 110 children and youth. In Hambantota CPArts organized a Peace camp on 18 January in which 112 children from four villages took part. Many participants commented that they had witnessed such an event for the first time in Hambantota. A special feature: Participation of many Muslim children.

One aim of the Centre for Performing Arts is to create bonds of special friendship between pairs of CPArts regional Centres. It is in line with this plan that a group of Monaragala CPArts children visited CPArts Puttalam and stayed there for two-days ( 27/28 January). On their way Monaragala children who had never been to Colombo city earlier, went sight-seeing Colombo. The Security Forces were very helpful in many ways making it easier for them to go through the barriers. Monaragala group had a get-together with children from Colombo CPArts. Main outcome: Better understanding and stronger friendship among Monaragala, Colombo and Puttalam CPArts children.

Another Inter-Centre Peace Encounter took place in February (10/11) between Galle and Haputale CPArts Centres. For the first time a group of forty-five children from Galle were able to get a first hand knowledge of the poor living conditions of the Estate population. An interesting incident took place during this excursion. Children form Galle wanted to visit a religious institution close to Haputale and they had to pass through a military check point. There was a problem at the check point due to the fact that some Haputale youth who had accompanied them were without their Identity cards. The Sinhalese children vouched for their identity and the soldiers let them pass. Both Galle and Haputale groups held a memorable Campfire. Many new musical talents were discovered.

National Peace Camp

A very special National Peace camp took place in Colombo on February 2 4 in which 80 youth from 17 CPArts Centres took part. It was an experience and expression of peaceful coexistence. It showed how Sri Lankans could live in peace and harmony with one another in a spirit of equality, fraternity and liberty. CPArts is very proud that it is has already initiated and created a well-integrated family of children, youth, men and women which could serve as an example for the divided and bloodied Sri Lanka..
A Camp fire was held in the evening and the hero of the evening was Saliya Sandaruwan from Monaragla, who astonished all present with his incredible yogic feats.

The Jaffna, Ilavalai and Vanni Centres are working hard under trying and challenging.circumstances. An undeclared and ferocious war is taking place in those areas.. CPArts members are carrying on their activities amidst great personal dangers. Regular Workshops and Seminars for youth and children are being held; new publications have been launched in Jaffna; Many Youths are involved in social and charity works.

In short: CPArts takes pride in its vision and mission and the courage and dedication of its members.

		A short Report of activities in January-February 2007




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	Thai Pongal Festival 15th January Thai Pongal is a Tamil Harvest-Thanksgiving Festival which occurs in mid-January. It is believed that it is a messenger of a new dawn of hope. Thus it is also a Festival of hope. It is in this spirit that the CPArts members in all CPArts Centres celebrated this Festival. Panadura Centre whose members are Buddhists and Singhalese celebrated this Festival by inviting children of all ethnic and religious communities to take part in this Tamil Festival , making it thus a Peace Festival. In Jaffna, where there was “starvation”, the Festival was marked by prayers for Peace and Harmony. After the religious ceremony, all participants were given breakfast. In Batticaloa CPArts members celebrated it with Internally Displaced persons Regional Peace Camps and Peace Excursions In Batticaloa, a region defined by bloody violence, Batticaloa Centre held a three-day Peace Camp in January (19/20/21) with 110 children and youth. In Hambantota CPArts organized a Peace camp on 18 January in which 112 children from four villages took part. Many participants commented that they had witnessed such an event for the first time in Hambantota. A special feature: Participation of many Muslim children. One aim of the Centre for Performing Arts is to create bonds of special friendship between pairs of CPArts regional Centres. It is in line with this plan that a group of Monaragala CPArts children visited CPArts Puttalam and stayed there for two-days ( 27/28 January). On their way Monaragala children who had never been to Colombo city earlier, went sight-seeing Colombo. The Security Forces were very helpful in many ways making it easier for them to go through the barriers. Monaragala group had a get-together with children from Colombo CPArts. Main outcome: Better understanding and stronger friendship among Monaragala, Colombo and Puttalam CPArts children. Another Inter-Centre Peace Encounter took place in February (10/11) between Galle and Haputale CPArts Centres. For the first time a group of forty-five children from Galle were able to get a first hand knowledge of the poor living conditions of the Estate population. An interesting incident took place during this excursion. Children form Galle wanted to visit a religious institution close to Haputale and they had to pass through a military check point. There was a problem at the check point due to the fact that some Haputale youth who had accompanied them were without their Identity cards. The Sinhalese children vouched for their identity and the soldiers let them pass. Both Galle and Haputale groups held a memorable Campfire. Many new musical talents were discovered. National Peace Camp A very special National Peace camp took place in Colombo on February 2 4 in which 80 youth from 17 CPArts Centres took part. It was an experience and expression of peaceful coexistence. It showed how Sri Lankans could live in peace and harmony with one another in a spirit of equality, fraternity and liberty. CPArts is very proud that it is has already initiated and created a well-integrated family of children, youth, men and women which could serve as an example for the divided and bloodied Sri Lanka.. A Camp fire was held in the evening and the hero of the evening was Saliya Sandaruwan from Monaragla, who astonished all present with his incredible yogic feats. The Jaffna, Ilavalai and Vanni Centres are working hard under trying and challenging.circumstances. An undeclared and ferocious war is taking place in those areas.. CPArts members are carrying on their activities amidst great personal dangers. Regular Workshops and Seminars for youth and children are being held; new publications have been launched in Jaffna; Many Youths are involved in social and charity works. In short: CPArts takes pride in its vision and mission and the courage and dedication of its members. Report by CPArts Team