Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/08/2020
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Categories


Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs and JLI

A joint JLI – WFDD – Berkley Center Initiative on COVID-19

Each country faces different challenges as they confront the double crisis of COVID-19 infection and related economic and social shocks. The COVID-19 emergency is also disrupting the ongoing strategies and programs of leading international faith-inspired organizations. Many are responding directly to varying dimensions of the COVID-19 emergency while at the same time maintaining their focus on critical development priorities. Sri Lanka stands out among countries for its progress on human development, but also, less positively, for bitter conflicts that have included religious dimensions. It also has one of the most respected faith-inspired movements: Sarvodaya, a leader in community-driven development that has built on Buddhist principles. Sarvodaya is deeply involved in Sri Lanka’s challenges, listening to and supporting communities responding to natural disasters, ethnic conflicts, and now to the COVID-19 emergency.

Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, president of Sarvodaya and a medical doctor by training, will use the COVID-19 emergency to frame his reflection on Sri Lanka’s experience. Berkley Center Senior Fellow Katherine Marshall will engage with Ariyaratne, focusing on four questions: How have COVID-19 challenges affected daily life and livelihoods in Sri Lanka, as well as health services? What have been distinctive effects on women, including female-headed households and returning migrant workers? How has Sarvodaya related to government entities and WHO during the crisis, and has this posed specific challenges or benefits? Finally, how has this emergency affected peacebuilding in the country and the roles of peacebuilders? The discussion will build upon these questions to explore the many facets of Sri Lanka’s current situation.

Please RSVP here.

The Zoom Webinar link and instructions to join the call will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. EDT on August 24 to anyone who has filled out the RSVP form. This event will be recorded and posted to this page after the event date. Please RSVP to receive an email notification once it is posted.

Read more about the joint JLI-WFDD-Berkley Center COVID-19 and Faith Initiative here