Visit/spend time in homes

ABOUT SHANTHI

Shanthi Community Animation Movement is a voluntary organization working amongst the shanty dwellers along the canal banks, extending from Wellawatte-Dehiwela to Kirullapone and Kalinga Road, Polhengoda. Some of these families have been reallocated to Badowita- Attidiya whilst families who were residing at Veluanarama were moved to Srimaha Vihare and Bathiya Mawatha the National Development Authority for housing resettlements. The organization extends financial assistance by way of grants and loans to relocated families to build their homes on a located land by the Land Reclamation Authority.

The aim of the Movement is to identify the needs of the community and to involve them in various development activities, such as educational, religious, civic as well as give counseling and hold community meetings at all centers to improve the standard of living. It is run under the care of Rev. Fr. M. Catalano, and his friendly staff. Fr.Catalano, originally from Italy, has spent 55 years in Sri Lanka. In the last 27 years he has been looking after the disadvantaged and poor people of Colombo and more recently the large number of displaced people affected by the Tsunami which hit Sri Lanka on the 26th of December 2004.