Sri Lanka is one of the most active participant countries working with the Religious Youth Service (RYS). Since 2000, RYS Sri Lanka has been able to organize regional projects annually, reaching out to people from all walks of life, even when the country was passing through turbulent times of civil war that ended in 2009.

RYS Sri Lanka 2011 will be held in Divulagamana, a war-affected village in the Pollonnaruwa district about 300 km from Colombo. This village with 1,748 people from 439 families is dependent on agriculture.

Scheduled for December 16-22, 2011, the RYS project will accommodate 40 volunteers from diverse cultures and religions, including 5 international participants, 10 participants from the northern and eastern regions of Sri Lanka, 15 participants from other parts of the country, 5 participants from the local area of the project and 5 staff members).

Participants will take part in a classic RYS experiential leadership program, including leadership exercises, lectures and interactions, interreligious sharing, sightseeing, and contributing through community service. Dr. Robert S. Kittel, a master trainer with decades of experience in sharing a vision of universal values, will serve as the educational director of the project.

RYS is planning to build a much-needed community center for the villagers, who plan to use this building to hold meetings, sponsor self-help programs and to accommodate family functions, funeral services, cultural activities, and numerous social celebrations.

his project is expected to positively impact the community through enhancing social/cultural interactions among the inhabitants. The villagers are eagerly looking forward to being part of this unprecedented project in their hamlet.

RYS Sri Lanka 2011 is working in cooperation with the Presidential Task Force on North and East Development, the Tharunyata Hetak Youth Organisation, the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare headed by Hon. Minister Felix Perera, Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe MP for Plonnaruwa district, Mr. H. Mayadunne - District Secretary of Pollonnaruwa, and many other social service organizations.

As this eventful year comes to an end, we invite you to become a part of the beginning of a progressive and prosperous new year with this tiny village community. Let us serve each other and share our resources with the less privileged among us.

Registration fees (Negotiable)
Participants from developed countries – 400 US$ per person
Participants from developing countries – 50-100 US$ per person