FROM THE ISLAND NEWS PAPER 6TH DECEMBER 2011 :

On the 23rd of November 2011, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), along with the Police raided Prem Nivasa, a chidrens’ orphanage run by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, which is a branch of Mother Theresa’s sect in Kolkata, India. Consequently, Sister Mary Eliza was arrested and remanded. This was the first time in history that a Rev. Sister of that order was arrested anywhere in the world. What an ignominous record when those sisters also operate in high risk countries. This home has been in operation for over a quarter of a century and earned the respect of people of all religions in Moratuwa. Surely the home is compelled to give away the children for legal adoption, as they could not have kept all the children born there over these years.

One day I was driving along Galle Road and when I came close to a yellow pedestrian crossing, I saw two women waiting to cross the road. One of them was a Catholic nun wearing a white saree with a blue border, the mark of the Mother Theresa order. So I promptly stopped and allowed them to cross. On closer examination, I noticed that the Rev. Sister was carrying an infant in her arms and the other woman appeared to be a mother who appeared to have recently delivered a baby. She was dressed in bed jacket and cloth. What dedication and commitment these sisters from India offer, as much as Mother Theresa, who was born in Albania and then lived among the destitute children in Kolkata. Love so amazing, so divine!

Sri Lanka is a country where no action was taken regarding alleged corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), until they emptied all their coffers on corruption and ended up in the red for US $ 23 million and unable to pay the salaries of the national cricketers. So what is the haste in carrying out a raid of this nature without making prior investigations?

The late General Sir John Kotalawala, in his last will bequeathed the Kandawala Estate to one of two entities. One was the Sri Lanka Army. The other was the Catholic Church. Sir John had categorically mentioned that these were the only organisations in this country that are not corrupt and he could rest in peace after his death, knowing that his bequest will not be squandered. So finally when the Catholic Church and Prem Niwasa will be absolved of all the naming and shaming business, I doubt that the same media hype will prevail to give that also the same publicity they have given the poor peoples’ home.

Meanwhile, where are the past mothers and grown up children who have benefitted from the good work of the home? If not for this charity, they would have been abandoned in bus halts or thrown into waterways. In a country where there are groups to launch protest marches at the drop of a hat, this kind of silence is deafening. It seems these Sisters and the inmates are left alone to prove their innocence.

This whole episode is reeking with lack of direction and foresight. Much like taking a buffalo by the horns. A point here and a point there and a lot of bull in between.

RNF,
Moratuwa.