By Mr. Thusita Weerakoon  B.A.  

Attorney at Law

 

Flower buds are very delicate. Children are just like flower buds. Everyone likes to see children’s innocent, happy smile. Children smile with everyone, play with everyone and talk to everyone.  They know nothing about ethnic difference.  They see the people before them equally. 

 

Flower buds bloom well, in the fertile soil combined with a befitting environment.  Children grow physically and mentally well, with good foods combined with love and affection.  Flower buds are so sensitive that even a slightest heat would fade them away.  Children are the most vulnerable group in Sri Lanka who feel the heat of the war very badly. The Sri Lanka Children’s Emergency Fund focuses on the well-being of children who were affected by the civil war in Sri Lanka.

 

Consequences of the war

 

A mother or father who went to war might return without a limb. Children would then have to look after their disabled mother or father or sometimes both of their parents for the rest of their lives.   Some children have not seen their mother or father for a long time.  They are impatiently waiting to see their beloved mothers or fathers’ safe return.  They may be counting the days they have not seen their mother or father.  They don’t know when or whether they would return home at all.  There are thousands of children in Sri Lanka who have become destitute and orphans as a result of the war.

 

Voice to the Voiceless 

 

Children have done nothing wrong.  No reasonable person, therefore, would ignore them.  However, unless those innocent children are provided with at least basic needs for their survival, their frustration may create another dangerous era in Sri Lanka.  Unless they are given broad and balanced guidance and education they might end up becoming one sided extremists.  Such people, whatever name they are labelled, would be a huge danger and disaster to the world. 

 

The majority of people in Sri Lank are impatiently dreaming of the end of the civil war.  They are counting the days to see the dawn of long lasting peace.  However, it would be a mistake, if we forget the truth that “wars begin in the minds of the people, it is in the minds of the people that the defences of peace must be constructed” (Preamble, UNESCO Constitution).   It is not easy to forget the tension, hatred, anger mounted and rooted against different communities during the last 3-4 decades. 

 

The question is whether we should keep silent, until children push themselves to violence or whether we should find ways and means to guide them to become useful citizens.  Due to misunderstanding, children start suspecting and mistrusting others. Mistrust leads to intolerance. Intolerance creates hatred.  Hatred causes violence.  Mutual understanding between communities is therefore, the starting point towards a peaceful Sri Lanka.    

 

Children are the owners and leaders of the future world. Children, therefore, deserve a better life and need healthy, physical and mental, balanced growth for personality development.  The success of children’s interaction with parents, families, relatives, society and different communities will depend on the extent of the strength of their bond of trust with the world around them.  From childhood, everyone therefore, should have an environment in which they would be able to trust others and gain confidence and security. 

 

UNICEF

After World War II, European children faced famine and disease.   Many parents who went to war never returned home.   It was realised that children need love and affection as well as good food for their healthy growth.   United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was created in December 1946 to provide food, clothing and health care to them. Today it has grown bigger and bigger extending its branches throughout the world, representing a diverse range of children, in 191 member states.  UNICEF was awarded Nobel Peace Prize for the promotion of brotherhood among nations. 

 

SLCEF

 

Sri Lanka Children’s Emergency Fund (SLCEF) has been set up with the supreme objective of feeding destitute children on love and affection.  Mutual understanding between communities is the first step towards a united Sri Lanka.  SLCEF will open doors to promote intercommunity friendship, brotherhood, and a peaceful coexistence. Peace begins in the minds of children.  With the start of strong ties of friendship between children in every part of the island, any remaining enmity between communities will disappear.  It would be the dawn of a new age in Sri Lanka.   

 

We open doors for children irrespective of their origin.  We would provide equal opportunities to all children. We welcome helpless children with open arms.  We never let them think that they are alone.  We listen to them kindly, just like their own parents.  We advise and guide them, if and when needed, for the promotion of friendship and brotherhood among different communities.  We encourage and help them to continue their education.  We would set them free from fear and poverty.  We would nourish them economically, socially and culturally.  We are committed to giving children every possible help and to create an environment where they can prosper their own personality development to become good citizens of the world.

 

Funding

It is expected that SLCEF would be funded by voluntary contributions from governmental and non governmental organisations.  Donations from the local, national and international private sector are welcome.   SLCEF needs your support and cooperation to expand its services throughout the island.  We need your ideas, services of volunteers, advisers, teachers, and doctors.  We need food, clothing, medicine, shelters, and donations.  We welcome your help and support to rebuild the lives of destitute children of the war.  With your generous contributions we would lay a strong foundation to build a new, peaceful, prosperous Sri Lanka.  Let’s forget the past and make tomorrow’s Sri Lanka a better place to live.   

 

Let thousands of flower buds fully bloom freely, making the environment beautiful and spreading their sweet smell throughout the world. 

 

By Mr. Thusita Weerakoon  B.A.  

Attorney at Law

Contact us:  email: slcef@yahoo.co.uk            Tel: 020 8814 1883/8577 3301

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Sri Lanka Children’s Emergency Fund

 

Please send us the following details of children who need SLCEF help:

 

Full name                                :

Address                                   :

Date of birth                           :

Male/Female                            :                                                                                  

Father’s name                          :                                   alive/injured/missing/dead

Mother’s name                        :                                   alive/injured/missing/dead

Brother/s and sister/s’ name/s :                                   alive/injured/missing/dead

AGA division                         :

Life story in brief.                   :

What help you expect ?          :                      

 

Contact us:

Sri Lanka Children’s Emergency Fund (SLCEF)

The General Secretary: email: slcef@yahoo.co.uk – Tel: 020 8814 1883/8577 3301