About Us – Caritas Ratnapura Sethmini

Caritas Sethmini Ratnapura

Operating under the guidance and direction of the Bishop of Ratnapura, Caritas Sethmini is the social arm of the Catholic Diocese of Ratnapura. Our mission in the social sphere is based on the Gospel values of universal solidarity towards all people of the diocese, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. We are dedicated to uplift the needy and marginalized, educate them for their self-improvement, promote peace and harmony among various social groups, and provide assistance in times of calamity and emergency. Our aim is to restore human dignity by improving the socio-economic and spiritual status of especially poor and marginalized communities and to give them access to and control over resources and decision-making processes.

Caritas Sethmini covers the entire territory of Sabaragamuwa province including the two districts of Ratnapura and Kegalle. 4968 square kilometers with 28 divisional secretariat divisions divided into 1148 grama niladhari divisions (the lowest administrative unit of the government) for administrative and development purposes. The total number of villages is 3568. It has a population of 1.9 million, of which 86% are Sinhalese and the rest are Tamils, Muslims and others. 85% of the population are Buddhists and the rest are Hindus, Catholics, Muslims and others.