In Sri Lanka, majority of its population have been robbed of their peaceful lives. The Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burger communities have long been subjected to trauma and fear caused by the two and a half decades of ethnic armed conflict within the region. Hostilities resulted in the disappearance of about 100,000 people in the northern and eastern part of the country. Records further showed that 80,000 more disappeared in the south.

It is no wonder then that according to the World Health Organization, 15 per cent of the population now suffers from mental disorders. This figure is bound to increase if violence in the country persists and if proper interventions are not made.

Families in Sri Lanka do not trouble themselves much to seek rehabilitation. Poverty, for one, hinders them to afford counseling sessions. Incomes would rather be spent for basic needs. Rehabilitation would already be burdensome especially for those who lost their bread winners.

Much, then, still has to be done to gradually help the families heal. Encouragement and comforting words are needed to finally make them realize that the time to start healing is now.

The AFAD-initiated rehabilitation activity in Indonesia in December 2004 which brought together families of the disappeared in Asia sparked a light of hope for the Sri Lankan families. Delegates from the activity came home with spirits radiant of their renewed faith in life. The door to acceptance was opened.

Consequently, the re-echoing of this activity in Colombo on 2-4 May 2006, proved successful. A total of 40 participants welcomed Rev. Fr. Ben Moraleda and Ms. Josephine Callejo, two psychologists from the Philippines who facilitated the sessions, into their lives. And by sharing their fears and traumas, they were finally able let go of their painful pasts. As they gradually ease their hearts of their burdens, they learned to take the hand before them which offers to guide them back to the right track of life – a happy, fulfilled life.