Phase I - 1976 – 1978
Being challenged as Christians to respond to human suffering & injustices in our own country, 3 of us began to work together with a deep sense of commitment .The suffering of the majority of the people motivated and guided us in our work. We tried to understand more deeply the society in which we live, by reading daily newspapers & magazines and other literature on social questions and also by studying the vision and methodology of institutions like Sarvodaya , Sedec & Satyodaya and People's organisations like Trade Unions and Rural Development Societies. In the meantime , using the various connections we had , we regularly visited different associations , Organisation , youth groups , religious groups etc.., along the coastal belt , in the central part of the country , the dry zone and in the north as well as in the south. We would spend days with them, sharing our views while trying to absorb something from their experience. We also conducted leadership training programs for youth from villages & slum areas. In '77 we conducted a one-month training for 24 health volunteer workers who at the end of the course were provided with a basically ayurvedic first - aid kit instead of the usual western one. Following the racial riots, we also involved ourselves in working around the racial issue while helping and comforting the victims. At the time we defined our mission as undertaking to work for justice since we believed strongly that justice was an integral component of love - our love for people. All this work demanded that we live under one roof for the sake of continuity and effectiveness. In 1978 , four of us moved to a small house in Talahena , thanks to Fr.Balasuriya and Bishop Leo. We continued our work with greater enthusiasm and a sense of security.
Phase II - 1979 - 1982
A young girl from the slums , who asked us for help in continuing a pre-school for slum kids led us to the formation of alternative pre-schools (Life Training Homes for kids) which gained in popularity with time. We also conducted one-week training programs for health volunteer workers from the slums in Colombo. Thanks to the publicity given to us by Rudiger Siebert a German journalist , Terre des Hommes stepped in to help us. Missio , A.P.H.D and C.C.F.D . also came to our help in due course.
In order to ensure the stability of our work , and also to overcome our financial difficulties , Anita , sold one of her properties , for Rs.250,000.00. With part of this money we were able to buy for ourselves a piece of land with a small house cum boutique from Talahena itself. Having renovated the house and made it habitable , we moved in to our own home at the beginning of 1980.
The 1980 July general strike created a big stir in the whole country. The government reacted by throwing out more than 40,000 workers. We contributed in a small way to the solidarity movement which sprang up to extend cooperation to the workers. The farmer , worker & political activists with whom we established close links influenced us and also challenged us regarding our political awareness. As a result of all this we sent Paul to the Indian Social Institute in Bangalore in early 1982 , for a 3 month training course on the Political Situation in Asia . This training provided the necessary inputs and the guidance , to enable Paul and later all of us to develop a broad political vision and be able to take clear political stands on critical issues.
Phase III - 1983 – 1987
A big change occurred in our analysis vision and work after Paul returned from India. We tried to grasp the links between poverty and exploitation and the functioning of multi-national companies. We tried to 'think global and act local' . Having realised that women's oppression was a reality , we decided to change the 7 mother's associations we had, into women's associations with a new orientation.
In response to the unjust water - tax and the punishments mentioned for non-payment, the farmers in the Monaragala district formed an organisation. At the request of the farmers we formed 4 new farmer women's association ' with added focus on farmer issues.
The Black July of 1983 shocked us into a more intense program of work.
After the farmers won the court - case around the water - tax issue , farmers in other districts got organised. There was much work to be done in the area of alternative pre-schools , alternative health programs farmers organisations women's association and peace work. We were in desperate need of financial help in 1985 and Cebemo came to our rescue . We forged the links that remain until today.
By 1987 we were working in 5 districts , running the newly established village based ' Medicinal Homes ' in addition to the existing programs. In September 1987 , the 16 women's associations in the Monaragala district came together and formed the Uwa wellassa farmer women's organisation.
Phase IV - 1988 – 1989
This was the reign of terror in the South and all eyes and ears were turned from North to South. From the end of '87 , we tried to analyse the situation of war and violence & to see the link between the armed guerilla groups in the North and South. Then there was the Indo-Lanka Pact and the violent reaction to it. As C.E.C. we took a clear stand against violence & killing and against gun-culture. We stood for the rights of minorities and the need to solve the immense problem of youth employment . However our stand against inhuman killing angered the DJV (the armed wing of the JVP.) Paul and later 2 other members of the Ex-co were threatened with death. Paul had to go to a safe-house to be joined later by the other two.
Activities in all the districts came to a halt . Only the medicinal homes functioned. The women however ingeniously worked out ways & means of meeting and strengthening each other . In response to the senseless brutal killing in the North & South & the anarchy which reigned , the Human Rights Coalition and the Mothers and Daughters of Lanka were formed.
Phase - V - 1990 – 1994
By mid - 1990 we began to get back to normal travel and work. Men and women leaders as well as people in villages showed great enthusiasm in forming new associations . The biggest leap was in the area of women's associations which increased from 52 in 1990 to 83 in 1994. The solidarity network grew stronger and the saying ' The darkest hour is before the dawn ' , seemed to be coming true. We also initiated a program in the Galle district in 1990 and there was a steady growth within the period.
Phase VI - 1995 - 2000
1995 was an year of hope and enthusiasm. With the 62 % record vote given to the new President to usher in peace , the NGO sector in particular was jubilant. Our participation in the Free and Fair Election Campaign had also been a great success. In 1995 the C.E.C. executive director was in the team in chargé of drawing up the syllabus for the National Poverty Alleviation Program.
C.E.C. had the highest number of training programs - 21 of them during 1995.
· The foundation for the formation of the Youth Resources Development Guild was laid in 1995.
· Six women leaders including the president and the national co-ordinator of the women's program got , an opportunity of attending the women's conference in Beijing .
· The CIDSE 2000 nutrition program was initiated in 3 districts covering 52 villages.
· The foundation was laid for the Health Resource Centre of the CEC.
· The peace and democracy movement conducted a series of meetings culminating in the big rally in Vavuniya.
· From Vavuniya the peace mission set out to Jaffna. A member of our Ex-co joined the mission.
· The massive memorandum relating to farmers was handed over to the president. An Ex-co
member took a leading part in this.
It took only around one year for the NGOs and the masses to realise that their dreams were shattered , the promises broken , and trust betrayed . This proved too much for many NGOs, Trade unions & Pos as well as involved concerned individuals to take. They became bitter & hostile. Some lost enthusiasm in work.
Fortunately for us , the C.E.C. prior to '95 had not identified itself with the ruling group when they were in the opposition. Yet the pervading atmosphere in the country did affect our work after 1996. With Caritas unable to support the children's program any more , the number of pre-schools and Saturday dropped drastically from 120 units in 1994 to 60 by 1998. This in turn affected other programs.
Phase VII - 1999 - 2002
With all these set backs CEC managed to give a new life to thes 9 partners in the 9 regions.
The women's organization the peasant and youth organization were re-organized. Continuous workshops and seminars were conducted on leadership, good governance and community organizational development. A health resource development center was created around the theme. " alternative people's health policy " 36 organizations are in involved Community Health activities as a network.
Beside all these activities we were involved in human rights issues &, human right cases. Election Monitoring was done continuously over the past 10 years.
Today our 9 partner organizations have a legal entity and their own base of operation.
Our Partner Organizations are
| · | Uwa Wellassa Farmer Women's Organisation | Monaragala |
| · | Community Resource Protection Centre | Monaragala |
| · | Human Resource Development Youth Guild | Hambabtota |
| · | Ruhunu Community Development Centre | Kosgoda |
| · | Dambulla Community Resource Development Centre | Matale |
| · | Youth Resources Development Guild | Matale |
| · | Rajarata Janaprobodhini Foundation | Kakirawa |
| · | Vanni Community Development Foundation | Thanthirimale |
| · | Eastern United Women's Organization | Kantale |
Today the national center functions under 4 sections.
· Training Section
· Information and Documentation section
· Networking section
· Field activities
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