Sri Lanka - Local Update

Network e-Bulletin, April 2020, No. 5

Message from Laki and Nelum Perera

1977 Graduates

https://gyazo.com/95b9c9adc2b3c3967218862b0090137a

Nelum and Laki in thier coconut farm

Thank you very much for your kind inquiry about our grads in Sri Lanka. As you say, we are all in the same boat. I have inquired with most graduates in the ARIGA network and we are still somewhat safe. One exception is our ARIGA president, Chamika, who is under house quarantine as he came back from Europe after an official visit to the UK.

Life is getting harder and harder each day as the government is very, very strict with 24-hour curfews and lockdowns. Nelum and I have NOT got out of the house for three weeks to date. Now there is an indefinite curfew until further notice. A limited amount of vegetables, bread, and eggs are brought every other day to our neighborhood. Medicines can be ordered via "What's App” and are delivered to the doorstep.

I think we will have to go through these difficulties for some time. I am sure ARI staff and students are all safe. My advice to our grads is adhere to all government rules and keep your distance from fellow beings until the situation normalizes.

Our prayers are with you all. May God bless and guide you during these difficult days.

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Message from Chamika Jayasinghe

2000 Graduate

Healthy Lanka Alliance For Development

https://gyazo.com/f9b97c1ead69c87667483364ea362a79

Asian Rural Institute Graduation Association - Sri Lanka, 2019 Annual General Meeting

There are 6 districts completely locked down (Colombo, Kandy, Gampaha, Puttlam, Jaffna, and Kalutara). Colombo is considered the epicenter of COVID-19. The other 19 districts are under curfew until April 15. The most affected groups are the daily wage earners, self-employed, small businesses, and day laborers, counting 7,200,000 according to government news release.

https://gyazo.com/0350d2042e221a5f50920c1badaa110e

Sri Lanka districts under lockdown

The military and police strictly control movement. Unless you carry a curfew pass, arrest is imminent. This shows the situation for survival of the poor will be aggravated further.

Food rations

Colombo and suburbs are now receiving supplies from the food chains during the curfew hours, distributed by vendors. Pre-orders are accepted, but often limited. This facility cannot be accessed by the poor people. People are gathering to collect items during off curfew periods, but this affects the social distancing concept very much due to a shortage of food. The government has now appointed the task forces to look into this.

Water and electricity

The water services are interrupted sometimes but the power supply is on. Garbage collection too is affected, but the services are in place.

Health

Pharmacies were open up to last week, but now only government pharmacies are allowed to operate, not private ones. Private and government hospitals are opened but people cannot access services due to the curfew.

Banks

Not on full service, but some mobile units are functioning.

We have the following scenarios to select and develop contingency planning:

The area may get infected by 10% COVID-19

People cannot move out for their daily life

There can be food shortage

Breakdown in (mental) health

Children and women are affected due to long school holidays and food shortage

Short supply in government services

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Message from Subramaniam Sivapackiyam (Siva)

2003 Graduate

Sevalanka Foundation

https://gyazo.com/655f956ed466110e91b735730a91978e

Siva

How is COVID-19 effecting you and your community?

We are in the Central Province and in our community, nobody is effected by COVID-19. So far, we are safe. In Sri Lanka the first COVID-19 person was identified on 11 March 2020. He has recovered now. He was working as a tour guide and in February he spent time in Italy with a tourist group. Now, COVID-19 cases are increasing day by day and we have 178 people infected and six deaths.

How are you and your community responding to the threat?

In my community most of us stay at home. Only if there is an essential need people go out. Health staff, defense officers, and the media are doing valuable service for the community.

https://gyazo.com/cff1a6f302cea787bea003ebc4e2d075

The streets are empty in Siva's town

How are you dealing with “social distancing,” “self-quarantine,” “lockdowns” etc.?

Most of us are following “social distancing” and everyone is using facemasks. Six Districts are in lockdown (Colombo, Gampaha, Kaluthara, Putalam, Kandy and Jaffna) from 20 March. Apart from the above districts the government announced a curfew, but it is lifted from 6:00am to 2:00pm every three days. Only medical shops and vegetable markets are open during curfew time. Those who are affected by COVID-19 in the surrounding community are following self-quarantine according to Ministry of Health instructions.

What are your words of encouragement to your fellow graduates and all the ARI family?

Keep social distance; love your family, society, and country; believe in yourself; and follow the health professionals’ instructions.

https://gyazo.com/223add260fb4d0509577d4f9313941c0

Community Women's Day event (before the start of curfews)

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Message from Renuka Gunawardana

2004 Graduate

Women's Development Federation

https://gyazo.com/7dc9b5bcdcd2a06fdba1d68c31b49439

Renuka

I am Renuka, 2004 graduate of ARI. The Coronavirus is damaging every part of the world. I think it is a natural warning to human beings because humans pollute nature. We want to practice how to live with nature in a friendly way. When I was in ARI, I learned about that. I am doing so in Sri Lanka.

In this situation, my family and my community have not had anything bad happen. During the curfew time, we are growing our gardens and we have our food. We cannot get many foods in the markets. We are always talking about how to have food security and how to produce quality food in an eco-friendly way. Now, many people are growing home gardens. Humans are learning beautiful lessons from nature.