Empowering Educators and Students Through Training Workshops
Puthiya Velicham – A Light of Healing and Hope
After the devastation of 2009, our community was left in deep sorrow and psychological distress. Yet, a constant thought ran through my mind—that we must rise from this tragedy, take it as a challenge, and move forward without delay. With this sense of urgency, I traveled to Sri Lanka repeatedly in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, initiating programs focused on school education development, promoting small-scale industries, and supporting the internationalization of local products.
In the beginning, we aimed to meet war-affected communities—particularly widowed women—and hold discussions and create initiatives that would restore their hope and confidence.
In 2016, renowned psychologist Professor Dr. Jeyanthasri Balakrishnan from Tamil Nadu, along with Dr. Balakrishnan, graciously volunteered their time and expertise to support this mission without compensation.
We categorized our people into three groups to better address their unique experiences:
Those bearing the visible and invisible wounds of war—especially women-headed families
The present generation, including former combatants
The past generation, who continue to live through long-lasting war trauma
And most importantly, the future generation—the children born into post-war Sri Lanka, along with their teachers
With the guiding mantra:
“Let the inner darkness fade, let the light open up, let a new path be born, let the Tamil people rise,” we set out on this journey.
2016 Psychological Empowerment Seminars
From September 2 to October 16, 2016, we held psychological empowerment seminars across schools and public venues in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and the Hill Country. Over the course of these two weeks, more than 10,000 people participated and benefitted from the sessions.
Beyond One-Time Support
While the sessions provided general emotional support and inspiration, it became clear that deeper, long-term work was needed. Issues such as:
Domestic violence
Drug abuse
Loss of moral direction
Disinterest in education
Poorly coordinated aid efforts
Mental health stigma
were identified across regions.
Puthiya Velicham recognized the need to move from one-time events to sustained, organized, and community-led interventions.
A Foundation for the Future
2016 marked not just a project, but the birth of a movement—a new light for a society emerging from war. It laid the foundation for all future Puthiya Velicham initiatives, shaping the vision of social healing through empathy, education, empowerment, and collaboration.
Since then, Puthiya Velicham has continued to grow—guided by the belief that healing a nation begins with restoring its people, one voice, one step, one light at a time.
Let the inner darkness fade!
Let the light shine!
Let a new path emerge!
Let the Tamil people flourish!
Video
Puthiya Velicham – Second Phase (January 2018)
Empowering through Education and Sustainable Agriculture
From January 1st to 22th, 2018, Puthiya Velicham carried out its second major round of programs under the theme “Puthiya Velicham – A New Light,” across Sri Lanka’s Northern districts—Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Vavuniya. These included a wide range of training workshops, seminars, and dialogue sessions focused on education and agriculture, reaching over 1,000 participants.
Key Areas of Focus
1. Education Development
Two-week training for school teachers (3 Locations in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna)
One-day leadership seminar for school principals (Vadamarachchi and Kilinochchi Zones)
One-week soft skills workshop for youth (3 Locations in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna)
In total, the program included:
31 full-day training workshops
2 half-day sessions
6 focused dialogue discussions
3 major events
2 special dialogues under the theme “What Next?”
These involved participants such as teachers, principals, youth, farmers, academics, social activists, and community leaders.
International Expertise and Collaboration
The 2018 programs were enriched by the presence of international trainers from India, Canada, and Sweden, including:
Dr. Jeyanthasri Balakrishnan, Psychologist and Professor
Dr. A. Balakrishnan
Dr. E. Bennet
Prof. Sharon Bennet
Prof. Tharani
For agriculture, Prof. Nadarajah Sriskantharajah, originally from Karainagar, Jaffna and now based in Sweden, led the organic farming training. He is an academic expert in natural farming and has worked with multiple universities across Europe.
Institutional Support
Despite many logistical challenges, the workshops were made possible through strong coordination with:
District and Divisional Secretariats
Northern Provincial Department of Education
Ministry of Agriculture – Northern Province
Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Colleges
University of Jaffna – Faculty of Agriculture
Local schools and community organizations
A Lasting Impact
The 2018 Puthiya Velicham initiative not only addressed immediate educational and livelihood needs but also fostered long-term inspiration and connections. It set a model for community empowerment through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and cross-border solidarity.
Legacy and Continuity
Puthiya Velicham’s second phase firmly established the initiative as a dynamic and evolving movement—one that combines emotional healing, educational reform, and sustainable livelihood development. The relationships, knowledge, and networks built in January 2018 laid the groundwork for future chapters in this ongoing journey of social transformation.