Introduction
Sarvodaya Suwasetha was established in 1976 as the welfare arm of Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya - founded by Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne in 1958.  Suwasetha started out with two malnourished babies and today has nearly 500 disadvantages children receiving residential care facilities in nine homes located in different parts of Sri Lanka.  Ma-Sevena was established in 2001 to provide secure residential facilities to sexually abused teenage girls, victims of rape and incest.  Three elders’ homes provide residential care for 60 destitute older persons.  A Community Based Rehabilitation programme provides services for persons with disabilities of all ages in the Galle and Kalutara districts.  In 1986 Sarvodaya Suwasetha Sewa Society Ltd became an independent unit when it registered as a voluntary non-profit social welfare organization with the Department of Social Services under the Welfare Society Ordinance.  Suwasetha is also gazetted as an approved charity in Sri Lanka and is also registered with Charity Aid foundation in the United Kingdom.

Suwasetha Working Days
Volunteers would be expected to work a total of 45 hours per week other than Sundays, Mercantile Holidays, Christmas, Easter, Vesak and the April New Year Holidays.

When submitting your application, please could you advise us

• Whether you wish to work at the Suwsetha Head-Office in Moratuwa, which is in the suburbs of Colombo, in the field, or in distant Suwasetha Homes – located outside Colombo;
• The period during which you would be volunteering to be engaged in the project;
• The preferred area(s) of work you would select to work in, based on your background

Please note that you should be competent in and have adequate training in the fields you wish to work in.

Orientation

All Sarvodaya Suwasetha Volunteers are required to attend a minimum 3-day orientation programme with Sarvodaya Sharamadana Sangamaya at the Moratuwa Head Office. The orientation will be focused largely on introducing you to Sri Lankan culture, and on giving you a fuller understanding of Suwasetha’s Mission and the nature of ongoing projects. Apart from the orientation programme carried out by Sarvodaya those who are enrolled under Sarvodaya Suwasetha Student Placement Programme will have to undergo a 5-day orientation programme to study the Suwasetha Projects.

During this period, you will be provided accommodation either at the hostel located at the Head-Office or at a nearby hotel. In either case, you have the option of having your meals at the Headquarters’ canteen. 

In the event that you decide to volunteer to work at the Head-Office, you will continue to stay at the Suwa Setha Hostel after your orientation.

If, however, you are moving on to a distant project site, we will endeavour to assist you with accommodation, housing and transportation. There are vehicles, which periodically leave the headquarters for distant project sites, and when necessary you will be assisted in obtaining transport facilities to the project sites.

Accommodation

There are two types of accommodation at the Head-Office – those with attached bathrooms and those which share a common bathroom. However rooms available at the Head- Office are limited and in the event that there are no rooms available, Sarvodaya Suwasetha will assist in arranging affordable accommodation in a nearby hostel/hotel.  If and when necessary, the Suwasetha Home Management can provide accommodation with minimal facilities for over night stay

Costs at Moratuwa Head-Office

• Accommodation: is priced at about US$ 7-8 per night per person depending on the type of accommodation.
• Meals at the Canteen: Breakfast (Rs 125 (US$ 1.25); Lunch (Rs 150 (US$ 1.50); Dinner ( Rs 150 (US $1.50); Tea (Rs 40 (US $ 0.40).

Registration Fees to be paid to Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya Head office. A registration fee is applicable upon or before arrival. This is to cover administration and service costs of the International Division, which will provide advice and assistance throughout your stay.

You may pay IN CASH either in rupees or in US dollars and you will receive a receipt from the International Division.

Visa Costs

Visas are required for all volunteers and visitors to Sri Lanka. A no-cost 30-day tourist visa is available upon initial entry into Sri Lanka for nationals of many countries. You can arrange to extend this visa to a 3-month visa with minimum hassle. However, costs vary according to nationality. For example, US citizens pay US$100 to extend their visas. You may therefore wish to consider the applicable visa fees if you are planning to stay in Sri Lanka for more than 30 days. Please check with the Sri Lankan High Commission/Embassy in your respective country for the cost of visa extensions.

Please note that the International Division of Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya will help to arrange extended visas for volunteers and visas are available up to three months.

For visas longer than three months, special permission must be sought from the Executive Director of Sarvodaya.  The International Office can release such a letter, but are not in a position to provide any further assistance.

Internet/E-mai

Internet/e-mail facilities are available at the Information Technology Unit at the Moratuwa Headquarters for a reasonable charge. Internet access is limited outside Colombo and the Sarvodaya headquarters, although there are Internet cafes in some towns, and many district centres have telecentres where you can access the Internet.

Local and IDD (International) calls

Local and IDD (INTERNATIONAL) calls, and photocopying facilities are available at the Damsak Communications centre at the Headquarters entrance for reasonable charge

Taxi and Three-Wheeler Charges

From Airport to Sarvodaya by taxi – approx. Rs 3,000
Sarvodaya to Mt. Lavinia by Three-Wheeler – approx. Rs 250 – 300
Trains to Kandy and Galle (from Colombo Fort Railway Station) – Rs 200 per person (First Class/Observation Car)

Travel within and around Sri Lanka

Volunteers may wish to include travel around Sri Lanka while they are volunteering, and Sarvodaya encourages its volunteers to explore the country’s many cultural, historic and religious sites.

Volunteers would be free to visit Tourist Centres around Sri Lanka except in the North and East, which are conflict areas. However, you would be required to always carry with you, your passport and a letter from Suwa Setha indicating your involvement with the Organisation.

The international division of Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya can provide assistance and advice on travel, but volunteers will have to cover all their own expenses.  You should also be prepared to take out travel insurance for the duration of your stay in Sri Lanka.

Contact Information

Mrs. N D Ariyaratne
Hony  Secretary
Sarvodaya Suwasetha Sewa Society
55 De Soya Road
Rawatawatta
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Phone:     + 94 11 2647158 
Fax:         + 94 11 2642036
E-mail:    suwasewa@sltnet.lk