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Name : | Mr. Daminda Chandrasiri Udumulla |
| Country : | Sri Lanka | |
| Native language : | Sinhalese | |
| Work Position : | Brother Priest | |
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Work |
Bro. Priest Daminda Chandrasiri Udumulla has worked as a farmer, raising rice and coconuts for most of his life. With his father’s assistance and teaching he has learned to not only raise enough food for the family, but also earn a small income through his farming. As a Brother Priest he works as in Smyrna Church. He also teaches agriculture on a demonstration farm to his parish members and participants in a youth drug rehabilitation program. The Smyrna Church has had great success with their counseling program for young drug addicts and Brother Daminda has helped rehabilitate over 1,000 youth. Currently he is currently working with a group of 70 young people. Part of the rehabilitation program includes instruction in farming. Through planting and marketing of potatoes and yams these youth are given skills to raise their food and earn a small income, and also are given a task that brings a sense of accomplishment while they are recovering from their addiction. In recent years Brother Daminda has become concerned about soil erosion in his area. Chemical fertilizers are prominent in Sri Lanka, as well as monoculture agriculture techniques which strip the soil of their nutrients. At ARI he plans to learn more about composting and organic fertilizers to help preserve the soil for generations to come.
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Sending Organization |
The Smyrna Church, founded in 1985, is a free Christian church not associated with any other denominations. There are four branches of the church located in the Uva Region and the Batticaloa District which are predominantly agricultural regions. Some of the churches are located in areas that have been affected by civil strife between the Sinhala majority and the minority Tamil tribal people. In the face of this tragic war, the Smyrna Church endeavors to serve all people and build peace. |