CSI Jaffna Diocese

JDCSI launches six grass roots projects in Delft
The Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) has a long and historic association with the people of the Island of Delft, the biggest of the seven islands that dot the north and north-western waters off the Peninsula of Jaffna. The home of one of the twenty one original churches of this diocese and the only Sri Lankan home of what has become known as the Delft ponies, this island used to be self-sufficient in essential food needs. People of Delft cultivated cereals such as the highly nutritious kurakkan along with varagu, samy and mondy despite its dry zone conditions and fresh milk was plenty and as for fish, there never was ever a short supply.
However, the problems of recent times and the political turmoil have affected Delft and many people have moved to the more productive agricultural lands in the Wanni in the immediate years after Sri Lanka’s independence. The island which once had its own royal ruler, King Vaidyarasan, has a population of Hindus, Catholics and Protestants all living in total amity. King Vaidyarasan is not only credited with having built the Delft Fort but also was the original constructor of a canal across the island linking two large tanks, an indication that agriculture flourished on this island.
The island was recently visited by the Bishop in Jaffna, the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah and his team despite highly restricted movements in this region and the dangers that are current to meet the people of his church and also to assess and understand their needs and create possible new opportunities for their development.
In a stirring exchange of ideas he emphasized the role of education when he observed education for development is underlined by the fact that it creates new persons who are capable of doing new things and this will be the highroad for progress as we chalk out a future for ourselves.
While prayer connects us all as one intimate family and a rich source of strength and inspiration, we must also become linked to the whole world which today has assumed the nature of one global human community wherever we make our home. In this world, English has become the major key to our unity and computer the necessary vehicle to help strengthen our links, share our culture and seek new dimensions for worldwide progress.
Having assessed the situation in Delft from recent reports and also observed the needs of the people of Delft first hand, Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah announced how the JDCSI has decided to meet these challenges in its drive to create a new growth towards progress by tapping our resources and potentials at the grass roots, and across all the socio-cultural divisions that have plagued our community. He stressed that we are all one family whoever and whatever we are and the JDCSI is committed to creating a new society that abhors divisions of any kind that exploits each other.
In the spirit of the mission to Delft, six projects have been launched on the island by the JDCSI including two day care centres that will meet the needs of 160 children, a computer training centre as well a vocational training centre and free evening classes to help children with their Ordinary and Advanced Level needs. Apart from these, there will be English classes for every Delftian and this will also be provided without charging any fees.
The only approach available to the people of the north to Delft is via the historic Nainatheevu and on this journey, one has to cross the treacherous cross currents of the “Seven-River Confluence”, the under water streams known in Tamil as “Erlaaththu Pirivu” that have geological significance related to the movements of the continents.