MISSION PARTNER NEWSLETTER FROM SRI LANKA September 2007

Casting a dark shadow over the first term of the new academic year has been the arrest of one of our students, Manoranjan, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).  On July 24^th the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) surprised the campus just as the students and Faculty were going to morning chapel.  Rosemary saw soldiers emerging from behind bushes and later taking Manoranjan away.   Acting on a tip off, they had found a CD of pro-LTTE songs interspersed with some pictures of LTTE cadres.  Manoranjan was taken to Peradeniya police station near the college where he remained for a few days while the investigation got under way.  Then he was transferred to Kandy police station for four more weeks while the legal system began to get its act together.  The students were splendid, visiting him three times a day, taking him food.  The Student Leader Shelton has shouldered a heavy burden in making all sorts of arrangements and visiting Manoranjan more than anybody else.  On August 20^th Manoranjan was brought before a judge for the first time, and was remanded thereafter in Kandy Prison.  One of the best local lawyers is representing Manoranjan – something many in this ethnically divided country would decline to do.  However, the judge has, after 4 court appearances and much argument by the lawyer, eventually decided that he has no authority to grant bail, so Manoranjan now remains in remand prison in Kandy.  Unfortunately, visiting hours are very strict there and now he can be visited for five minutes each day by at most 3 people.  So, although we visited Manoranjan many times in the two police stations, we have only been to see him once in the prison; his fiancée, his family and the student community take priority.  However, we did go when the students were on leave. The situation at time of writing is that Manoranjan’s file is to be passed from the Regional Police Office in Kandy to the Attorney General’s office in Colombo in the hope that a “No objection” (to bail) letter might be forthcoming.  In this way Manoranjan would be able to continue his studies while someone needs to decide what sort of offence it is to have such a CD.  The police investigation has revealed no links with anything more sinister.

So how has this affected the life of the college?  In general, spirits have been dampened and the appetite for anything beyond study and worship has been muted.  The Tamil students have become somewhat fearful.  Some of the local villagers (all Sinhalese) are now wondering if the college is a hotbed of potential terrorists.  The local lads seem to be taking more liberties on TCL property, venturing beyond the cricket pitch towards the fruit trees.  (But one of the highlights for us this term came when the students (plus us) were invited to a party at the house of one of the mess hall cooks to mark the marriage of her daughter.  All the Tamil students ventured forth with the Sinhalese students and all had a good time.)  And then there is the uncertainty about who tipped off the army. 

Mannar, by the way, has recently been the scene of heavy fighting between the SLA and the LTTE.  The war goes on. In July the government claimed victory in the east.  There were mandatory celebrations in all the schools and elsewhere.  The college felt obliged to send a Faculty member to a local do which was a bit awkward given the views of the community. Meanwhile, military checkpoints that have been in place for nearly two years are now being enhanced with large steel shelters for bus passengers to wait in while the bus is searched.  The sides of the shelter and the barricades across the road are used for advertising.  It’s all now just part of daily life.

In our last newsletter we mentioned a monk north of Trinco who was said to be ex-Army and incapable of listening or forming relationships. This may now not be the truth. Recently we heard of a monk being shot and killed in that area who was also a Tamil speaking ex-Army man - the very same man.  There were protests in Colombo at the apparent lack of any investigation.  It is a sad fact that no one is ever caught.  There is a culture of impunity that is truly malignant.

Matt Baker receives a gift from Rukshi after his popular seminar

Other events this term have included a day long seminar  for the students on personal development given by our Canadian Mission Partner friend from Nuwara Eliya, Matthew Baker, using the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator.  Apart from being fascinated by the subject, (themselves!) the students also much appreciated Matthew’s “Sringlish” and “Tamlish”, that is, English spoken in local accents and the local English vernacular.  Dr. Vinoth Ramachandra, a well-published Sri Lankan theologian, whose doctorate is in Nuclear Engineering, gave another seminar.  He spoke interestingly about science and religion, addressing two “myths”, namely that (a) science leads to atheism and (b) only scientific knowledge has real value.   A TCL alumnus, the Rev’d Leslie Daareju, returned to give a seminar on HIV/Aids.  Leslie expressed how honoured he felt to lecture at TCL having arrived a few years previously with very poor English but now being able teach in English.

A stall of rambuttan, a seasonal lychee-like fruit.

James has enjoyed teaching English to eight first years and also the spouses’ class.  The training he received in Birmingham is proving to be very useful and both the students and spouses seem to enjoy the lessons.  The spouses are gluttons for punishment and have asked for two hours of English conversation per week instead of just the one.  As for our learning of Sinhala, we feel we are making some progress under the excellent tutelage of Devakanthi after church on Sundays.  Rosemary even felt confident enough to make a very short speech at the Methodist Conference in Sinhala.  However, the President said he thought Rosemary had suddenly started to speak in tongues!  Pronunciation work needed!

The Methodist Conference took place in the town of Moratuwa a short distance south of Colombo.  Business included stationing, and there was a discussion on a Statement of Faith for the Methodist Church.  A Methodist lay theologian Dr Ajit Fernando gave a presentation on how ministers should behave with members of the opposite sex.  This was well received.  The conference was hosted by two large Methodist churches about one mile apart, the second one being brand new and very attractive.  Moratuwa is a strong Methodist area, and some of our students come from there. Dr. Elizabeth Harris was the British Methodist Church rep this year.

This term (September 21^st to Christmas) Rosemary will teach the Life and Ministry of Jesus to the 18 new (very pleasant) first years, the Theology of the New Testament to BD students (ministers and probationers on the part time post grad Bachelor of Divinity course) and two voluntary music theory classes.  She will also continue her role as Faculty Secretary which seems to take more and more of her time. We continue to be involved in the other duties that make up community life.

Rosemary with Rajah and his mahout August 2007

Elephants never cease to amaze Rosemary.  Last year she stopped the car to take a photograph of Rajah on the road near the college.  She promised the mahout that she would send him a copy of the picture.  But the envelope was returned – address unknown.  So, Rosemary asked the college driver, Christy, to keep a lookout for an elephant.  But there are many elephants!  Fortunately, this one had a damaged ear so Christy was able to recognise it – but it took nearly a year.  We saw Rajah again on his way to Kandy to be in this year’s Perehera (procession).  (James was pleased to use this story in his English lessons.)

We had a short break between terms 1 and 2 (Sept. 15^th to 20th).  We went to Bentota on the coast south of Colombo and had a rest.  We also visited a Turtle Protection sanctuary.  Our hotel was not busy - like the rest of the Sri Lankan tourist industry it is suffering because of the war. We had a much-needed rest, and felt better for it.

There are more photos of our life here in SL on our website: www.rosemaryandjames.methodistchurch.co.uk 

For more about TCL see: www.tclsl.org

Please consider the following prayer points:

Þ     For Manoranjan’s early release on bail of so that he can resume his studies; for his fiancée and family.

Þ     For an immediate stop to the fighting and a genuine commitment towards a negotiated solution.

Þ     For the relief of all displaced and frightened people so that they can return to their homes in safety.

Þ     For the TCL staff, students and faculty living their lives in community which is sometimes difficult

Þ     For good relations with the local people who are predominantly Sinhalese Buddhists.

Þ     For those who are brave enough to challenge the current government.

More Worship resources on our website.

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