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Torture day 2010 was celebrated in a new form making use of

Testimony Therapy for the “Mental Health and Well-being of our two
survivor families”

Dingiri Banda, his wife Nilmini, and their two daughters

Chamila Bandara, his mother Kumari, and two younger sisters

It was the day of the survivor families. The two survivor families as
chief guest, Bishop of Kandy Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando
participated in the celebration at the Carmel Hill convent hall Welcoming the survivors
Ampitiya, with survivors and their family members, religious sisters,
the members of the support group and some members of the
Ampitiya parish community, with around 110 participating at this
important occasion.

The celebration commenced with the arrival of the two survivor

families amidst a big applause and the child survivors welcoming
them. The traditional oil lamp created as a Transmission Pole
symbolizing the ministry of the Human Rights Office was lighted up by
the two survivor families, Bishop Vianney Fernando and Fr. Nandana
Manatunga.
Presenting the testimonies of the survivors
The reading of the survivor stories marked the main part of the
celebration. The stories of Dingiri Banda and his family members were
very touching. The presentation of the testimonies and the
encouragement was given by the members of the staff. The deep
silence of the hall conveyed the hearts participants were sad, heavy
and almost to the point of secondary traumatization.

Colorful and meaningful variety of dances befitting the occasion and

the launching up of the Web Page of the H.R Office, lifted back the
spirit of the participants.

Then the testimonies of Chamila Bandara and his family members

were read out, presented and encouraged by the members of the Address by the Bishop
support group.

The Human rights office being sensitive to the arising needs of

reconnecting family bonds of the survivor families after trauma,
trained 05 married couples during the course of the year as bare-foot
counselors to visit survivor’s families in their contextual situation. The
certificates of the course attendance were given away by His Lordship
Bishop Vianney Fernando and Fr. Nandana Mantunga.

Then all participants took time to greet, encourage each family

member of the two survivor groups for their unfailing courage and for
continuing the struggle to get justice Cultural Items