Seth Sarana-Caritas Colombo is the Social Action Arm of the Archdiocese of Colombo. It is the diocesan secretariat of the Archdiocesan Catholic Commission for Justice Peace, Human Development and care for the creation.
Legal status
Seth Sarana-Caritas Colombo, attains its legal status under Parliamentary Act No. 17 of 1983 which is an Act to Incorporate the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka.
This Act is citied as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Act No. 17 of 1983
Our History
The Archdiocese of Colombo carried out various charity initiatives and human development towards the poor, in parish and organizational levels from long ago.
Rev. Fr. Felix Perera, carried out this work as the head of “Development Center”, located in the Archbishop’s house, Colombo, 08, in 1980’s.
Advisory Board
His Eminence Malcomb Cardinal Ranjith, appointed an Advisory Board to give directions on administration, finance and charity work
SETH SARANA-CARITAS COLOMBO
The Archdiocese of Colombo carried out various charity initiatives towards the poor, in parish and organizational levels from long ago.
Rev. Fr. Felix Perera, carried out this work as the head of “Development Center”, located in the Archbishop’s house, Colombo, 08.
Seth Sarana-Caritas Colombo was launched in 15th August 1986, and His Eminence Malcomb Cardinal Ranjith, present Archbishop of Colombo was appointed as the 1st Director. Among its main objectives were to stand for the timely needs of the fishery folk, to grant emergency relief services during a disaster, to provide shelter to the homeless and to initiate scholarship programmes for the children.
In 1991, when Rev. Fr. Basil Wicramasinghe became the director, he gave more organizational structure to the institution with a new staff. At that time Human Development Committees and Self Help Groups were installed at parish level. Various charity initiatives, environmental, child protection, housing and development projects were also started. Archdiocesan Lentern Educational programme was one of notable projects launched at that time.
Rev. Fr. Francis Jayakody, continued as the director from 2001, making room for self-employment and housing projects with renewed vigour. During 2004, when Sri Lanka faced Tsunami Disaster, Seth Sarana responded with Tsunami rehabilitation and re-construction programmes.
In 2006, Rev. Fr. Jude Raj, continued Tsunami rehabilitation and re-construction programme, while different charity projects were carried out for the good of the benificeries. Model Farm and training Centre at Madampe, in 2009, re-construction of Providence Centre for traing programmes at Bandaragama in 2011, were some of visionary ventures to mention. Seth Sarana celebrated its silver Jubilee under Rev. Fr. Jude Raj.
When Rev. Fr. Rohan De Alwis became the director in the year 2012,seth Sarana continued its programmes for the community. At that time, Seth Sarana diocesan office was located at Paul 6th Centre.
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ramanayaka, as the director of Seth Sarana from 2017, commands the present activities of the institution. He, with the guidance of His Eminance Malcomb Cardinal Ranjith, re-located Seth Sarana office back at the Jubilee Hall of the Archbishop’s House on 15th January 2018.
Our Directors
1986-1991 His Eminence Malcomb Cardinal Ranjith-1st Director
Major areas of concern
-To stand for the timely needs of the fishery folk.
-To grant emergency relief services during disasters.
-To provide shelter to the homeless.
-To initiate scholarship programmes for the children.
1991-2001 Rev. Fr. Basil Wicramasinghe
Major areas of concern
-Introducing organizational structure to Seth Sarana.
-Human Development Committees and Self Help Groups were established at parish level.
-Environment, Child Protection and Housing projects
-Archdiocesan Lenten Educational programme
-Scholarship Programme
2001-2006 Rev. Fr. Francis Jayakody
Major areas of concern
-Self-employment programmes.
-Housing projects
-Tsunami rehabilitation and re-construction programmes
-Human rights projects
-Legal aids programme
-Scholarship Programme
2006-2012 Rev. Fr. Jude Raj
Major areas of concern
-Tsunami rehabilitation and re-construction programmes
-Housing projects/-Scholarship Programme
-Model Farm and training Centre at Madampe, in 2009
-Re-construction of “Providence Centre” at Bandaragama
-Fisheries programme
-Self Help Groups(SHG)
-I. G. P. Programme
2012-2017 Rev. Fr. Rohan De Alwis
Major areas of concern
-Seth Sarana diocesan office was shifted to Paul 6th Centre.
-I. H. G. Programme
-Zero poverty
-Scholarship Programme
-Migration Programme
2017- Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ramanayaka
Major areas of concern
-Re-located Seth Sarana office at jubilee Hall, Archbishop’s House
-Housing projects
-Scholarship Programme
-Psycho-social project for Easter Sunday Bomb blast victims
-S. H. S. ‘s at parish level.
-Migration Programme
Home Gardening
-Tolerance and Harmony among Religions
Reconciliation Programme