Sri Lanka continues to experience an unprecedented economic crisis with high inflation, rising commodity prices, power shortages and lack of fuel. The situation has taken a toll on everyone inhabiting in the country including temporary refugees from various neighboring countries who are currently living in our country till they get resettled in a third country. Not only did the crisis make it difficult for them to carry out day to day activities like travel and cook, it also negatively impacted their mental health. Fortunately, their host communities comprising of Sri Lankan locals have been highly supportive during these tried times. Whether it be providing the refugees with food and water or just being there to talk to them about how their day went, our locals made sure they felt at home and treated them like family irrespective of their ethnicity.

Although , Sri Lanka may not be the most powerful or the most important country in the world but it is the kind hearts of our locals that make our country even more beautiful and special. In order to show gratitude towards the immense help and kindness the locals have shown on refugees and to help them to steer through this economic crisis, supported by the UNHCR UN Refugee Agency in partnership with Muslim Aid Sri Lanka (MASL) and the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) distributed dry rations packs (each worth around LKR 7,000.00) to selected 700 vulnerable families on 09th September 2022 at the Divisional Secretariat (DS) office in Negombo with the presence of UNHCR, NAFSO, MASL representatives and officials from the DS office.

Although everyone in the country is suffering , Muslim Aid believes that even helping a small vulnerable community of people would go a long way. Selection of beneficiaries families was done with the help of the Divisional Secretariat in Negombo, preference was given to pregnant, lactating others, single mothers and elderly members in the community. Also it should be highlighted that in the last month, Muslim Aid with the support of UNHCR has distributed 500 ration packs in the Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia divisional area and is planning to distribute another set of dry ration in the coming weeks as well. Muslim Aid would like to thank UNHCR for its continuous support to help the vulnerable families in the selected areas.

Muslim Aid Sri Lanka has been implementing Model Rural Development Programmes for the past few years. Under this, three villages; Bilal Nagar, Sadam Nagar and Pattikuda have been included into this programme from Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat.

As an initial intervention, Muslim Aid in the process of supporting the extra classes for students from grade 3, 4 and 5 of Sadam Muslim Vidyalaya. The inauguration event of the project was held recently. The Country Director of Muslim Aid Sri Lanka, Mr. Faizer Khan has participated as the Chief Guest in the event along with School Principal, Students, Parents and other MASL Staff.

Model examination papers and learning material were handed over to the Grade-05 students at the event. In last year, Muslim Aid also made significant contribution to the same school by renovating the Library and providing stationary packs to selected students and also principal and teachers were participated in training programmes on child psychology. The parental awareness progamme also conducted in the same school for parents on the importance of education.

Same as this, Muslim Aid works in number of thematic areas where primary and secondary education development is one of them.

As the current Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka, has affected the daily routine and the basic needs of vulnerable families, We, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka appealed for your generous contribution to support our brothers and sisters who are suffering in this emergency situation. By identifying such families in urban and rural areas, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka has been providing dry food packs with the contribution of various humanitarian organizations and valuable donors.

In this regard, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka was able to provide dry food packs to 120 families from Surangal village in Kinniya Divisional Secretariat last week. The families of very poor students who are currently studying in Al-Ameen Maha Vidyalaya, a local school from the respective village, were selected as the beneficiaries in collaboration with the Kinniya Divisional Secretariat.

The Secretary and Deputy Planning Director from Kinniya Divisional Secretariat, Program Managers and Officers from Muslim Aid Sri Lanka, and Staff with Committee Members from Al-Ameen Maha Vidyalaya have participated in this distribution.

The main objective of this project is to improve the socio-economic status of the poor and underprivileged families who have experience in dairy farming in Thambalagamam Divisional Secretariat and to increase the milk production in Thambalagamam region and contribute to the national milk production in the country.

It is noteworthy that following the success of the dairy cow farming project implemented in 2020 with 60 poor and disadvantaged families with experience in dairy cow rearing living in the same Thambalagamam Divisional Secretariat , this project is being carried out as second phase. 35 beneficiaries and their families will be benefited in this phase which will be implemented in 10 Grama Niladari Divisions in Tambalagamam Divisional Secretariat.

The launching event was held on 2nd August 2022 at Tambalagamam Divisional Secretariat. Divisional Secretary Mrs. J. Siripathi, Deputy Planning Director M. Mujeeb, Veterinarian Mrs. Perera, Senior Staff of Muslim Aid Sri Lanka and the Staff from Divisional Secretariat who directly related to the project participated along with 35 male and female beneficiaries. At the end of the event, a three-year memorandum understanding was signed with the beneficiaries.

Addressing Deputy Planning Director, “We are meeting with the second phase of Muslim Aid dairy farming project now. In the first phase, 60 families were benefited. Currently 35 families are going to benefit. Not only this, Muslim Aid has been involved in various humanitarian and development programs in Thambalagamam division for many years even though the country is in crisis“.

The Divisional Secretary in her speech, “Today is a happy day. Everyone of you are getting more than LKR 300,000 worth animals and goods. We are just as excited as you are. I’m working shoulder to shoulder with Muslim Aid staff in selecting the beneficiaries. I also express my gratitude to my staff and Muslim Aid staff. She said that in this period of financial crisis, Muslim Aid is carrying out such development work in our area“.

For Muslim Aid, immediate and long-term expectations of the project to establish self-sufficiency in the milk production sector in Thambalagamam area and making it a successful dairy industry are the long-term goals.

POCs with the local community, were able to demonstrate a volunteer service. The area Community Police and its members, Grama Niladari, POCs and the staff of the MASL consisting of volunteers started cleaning up the beach in the Dehiwala area. It really facilitated the POCs to build good relationship with the local community and we were able to demonstrate a volunteer service acceptable to all. It really helped us to have a good understanding of working and sharing together.

The Municipality too gave us a hand in removing all the collected garbage. The members of the Community Police which consist of volunteers from the neighborhood of REC. They showed the willingness to work with our POCs in future projects where such teaming up is necessary to do Community services.

The Youths with many talents from vulnerable families under Kuchaveli Divisional Secretariat in Trincomalee District, had an opportunity to visit Mannar for having a training on seafood production & boat engine repairing this month. As it’s a second phase of support provided by Muslim Aid Sri Lanka, they were assisted to learn the methods of using the resources which are available in their areas. As a result, they will be able earn and manage their livelihood.