Sri Lanka
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Background
Methodism in Asia started in Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) in 1814 through the British Methodist mission. The United Methodist Church relates with the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka through continuing rehabilitation work after the devastation from the 2004 tsunami; through a Person-in-Mission grant for a Peace Educator, which addresses the ethnic divisions that have led to political destabilization in the country and through small program grants to support interfaith dialogue there.
UMCOR’s work in Sri Lanka includes the following activities: emergency relief, housing repair and construction, supporting the restoration of basic public services through repairs to community infrastructure, providing vocational and business skills training along with tools, and equipment to (re)establish livelihoods and building the capacity of local institutions to independently address the needs of tsunami and conflict affected communities.