Aims and Objectives

Fr Paul began Satyodaya as a people-oriented research centre (while Bishop Leo said he would see to the social action part of the Centre). In March 1973 came its first roneoed Bulletin, Satyodaya.

But on 1 July 1972 there came the first Law of Land Perform. Its implementation unexpectedly was horribly racialist. ‘The white man has gone. Now out you go too’, shrieked the thugs, often imported from outside the villages, by self-interested politicians. (Left to themselves, the Sinhalese and the Tamils live harmoniously together.)

Satyodaya was forced to take notice. In 1974 it gave birth to the Coordinating Secretariat for Plantation Areas (CSPA). Came 1977 and its fearful communal riots. Satyodaya entered to give support and relief to the victims. We helped about 10,000 estate families who lost everything, or nearly everything.

Satyodaya and CSPA pondered over what had to be done. Finally in 1979 the Movement for Inter-Racial Justice and Equality (MIRJE) was born. Fr Paul was its first President.

Satyodaya progressed from being a research centre to being an active agent for justice, illuminated by the light of faith.

Expansion

1972, one or two members and a largely empty house.

2000, some 56 members: Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians; Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Burghers; university graduates and primary school leavers; women and men. All full of ideas, full of people, caught up in a vision of Truth and Faith-Justice in our beloved land, in all lands.

Satyodaya now works for community development in 70 work places: 40 estates, 25 villages, 5 urban settlements.

From 1995 Fr Paul began the process of passing on the leadership, whole and entire, to three lay persons: Lalith as Chairperson, Pushpa as Treasurer and Harsha as Secretary.Administrator. Fr Paul remains as Chief Researcher and Advisor.

 

Fr Paul Caspersz, sj

Founder of Satyodaya Centre