Sri Lanka: Christmas of unity and solidarity for victims of torture and abuse
In 2008 Father Nandana Manatunga set up the Human Rights Office in Kandy for victims of torture, gender-based violence, and the families of the missing or unjustly detained. The Christmas season, he told AsiaNews, is a time to share joy with everyone, not only Christians, but also Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.
Kandy (AsiaNews) – Father Nandana Manatunga is the director and founder of the Human Rights Office (HRO) in Kandy, an organisation that helps victims of torture and gender-based violence, as well as families of the missing or unjustly detained.
Christmas “is something that all these people wish for every year,” he said speaking to AsiaNews. “They want to be happy together” and “build up good bonds between themselves.”
This year the HRO held a meeting on Christmas Day at the Shrine of Fatima in Padiwatte, Kundasale (Kandy) with those who take part in its projects and those who have passed through them over the years.
“During the COVID period, we were not able to do this Christmas get-together for about two or three years,” noted Father Nandana Manatunga. “But all these people were looking forward to it very earnestly and with great joy.”
In fact, “Even though they live in different parts in Kandy Diocese, they like to share their lives together, because they have faced the same kind of pain and suffering.”
What is more, not only Christian families came to the Christmas gathering to share the joy of Christmas, but also did non-Christians: Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and their families.
Indeed, “Christmas is a festival that gives us space to experience more sharing, understanding, forgiveness, and love,” explained the HRO director.
“We have been holding this Christmas get-together for about 10 years. And another goal of this Christmas gathering is to let them feel that they are not alone.”
Everyone who participated said that they were happy, from seniors to small children; the same thing for the families followed by the HRO – many of them shared their life experiences, starting with their happiness on Christmas.
“I was able to come to this event today because of the great help given to me by the Human Rights Office, including the Reverend Father,” said one of the victims of unjust detention followed by the HRO. The latter, the person said, “contributed to my medical examinations on various occasions” and “built me up.”
© Photo by Melani Manel Perera
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