Iftar In Style- Multi-Faith Communities Share the Spirit of Iftar with Muslims in the Community

 

As a part of celebrating cultural events with multi-faith participants, Women Councilors, community level activists and members of multi-faith clergy in Ampara, Galle, Kurunegala and Vavuniya participated in a series of Iftar celebrations. The sessions of the series of celebrations were conducted simultaneously on the 30^th of April and 7^th of May in the four districts.

The events saw eager participations from Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities representing the major faiths in Sri Lanka. The women leaders representing local governing bodies organized the sessions with the able support of community leaders.

All four sessions were aligned with the breaking of fast, and selected venues were arranged to facilitate the call to prayer as well as the subsequent proceedings. Following the breaking of fast, the participant clergy, representing the major faiths delivered speeches, praising the initiative and extending their well-wishes for further success in similar initiatives in the future. A variety of food items were served to all participants, to enhance the realistic experience of an Iftar celebration.

Women Councilors were also eager to share their views, as the sessions were the first time for most of them to witness and experience the Ramadan and Iftar related religious and cultural practices, up-close.  The active engagement of non-Muslim Women Councilors and community members from the brainstorming and organizing stage was an encouraging sign, as the open mind they had towards celebrations of other faiths, can be viewed as an indicator of growing inter-faith unity at the community level. The series of celebrations is aimed at strengthening community integration through improved cultural awareness.

Due to the emerging political developments at the ground level, the Kurunegala Women Councilors and Community Representatives opted to join a Ramazan celebration on the Zoom platform. Its program included blessings from multi-religious clergy; discussion on the different features of the Ramazan period; fasting and its significance; the ending of fasting and Iftar and the celebration of Eid. An interactive session with children from different religions was held as well as a video presentation of the Ramazan events in Ampara, Galle and Vavuniya, SAPRI’s other project districts.

It was encouraging to see participants from all faiths and ages enjoying the cultural knowledge of Islamic traditions. The contribution of multi-religious leaders who shared their well-wishes and   messages of unity was a significant feature of the programme.

The sessions succeeded a series of Capacity Building Workshops that were focused on initiating and organizing social movements as well as activities with an enhanced awareness on cultural and social sensitivities.

The activity is a part of SAPRI’s Reconciliation Through Women Councilors initiative, which is an extension of SAPRI’s long term commitment towards Building Religious Harmony. The year-long initiative engaging women leaders, community members, activists as well as members of clergy from four districts: Ampara, Galle, Kurunegala and Vavuniya, is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

 

 

 

සහජීවනයේ ඉෆ්තාර් රසය

 

සියළු ජාතීන් හා ආගමිකයන්ගේ සහභාගිත්වයෙන් සංස්කෘතික උත්සව සංවිධානය කිරීමේ උත්සාහයේ කොටසක් ලෙස අම්පාර, ගාල්ල, කුරුණෑගල හා වවුනියාව දිස්ත්‍රික් නියෝජනය කරන පළාත් පාලන ආයතන නියෝජිතවරියන්, ප්‍රජා නායකයන්, ක්‍රියාකාරීන් සහ තරුණ නියෝජිතයන් විසින් සංවිධානය කරන ලද රාමසාන් (ඉෆ්තාර්) සැමරුම් උළෙලවල් පසුගිය අප්‍රේල් 30 හා මැයි 07 යන දිනයන් වලදී පවත්වන ලදී.

සිංහල, දමිළ සහ මුස්ලිම් ජනවර්ග වල උද්යෝගිමත් නියෝජනයකින් යුතුව පවත්වන ලද මෙම සැමරුම් වල නායකත්වය ගනු ලැබුවේ සැප්‍රි ආයතනය විසින් සංවිධානය කරනු ලබන “සහජීවනය උදෙසා මන්ත්‍රීවරියෝ” වැඩසටහනේ සහභාගික පළාත් පාලන නියෝජිතවරියන් විසිනි.

උපවාසය අත්හැරීමට අදාළ යාඥා මෙහෙය සිදුකිරීමෙන් පසු ආහාර අනුභවය සිදුකෙරුණු අතර, සහභාගී වූ සියලු දෙනා එම ආහාර අනුභවයට එක්වුණි. අනතුරුව,  සියළු  ආගම් නියෝජනය කරමින් සහභාගී වූ පුජ්‍ය/පුජක පක්ෂ නියෝජිතයින් විසින් වැඩසටහන අගය කරමින්  කෙටි අනුශාසනා පවත්වන ලදී. වැඩසටහනට නායකත්වය ලබාදුන් ප්‍රජා නියෝජිතවරියන්ද අනතුරුව තම අත්දැකීම් විස්තර කරන්නට යෙදුනි.

මුස්ලිම් වරුන්ගේ ශුද්ධ වූ උපවාස සමයේ උපවාසය අත්හැරීමේ චාරිත්‍රය සැමරීම සදහා මෙසේ සියළු ආගම් සහ ජාතින් නියෝජනය කරමින් ප්‍රජා සහභාගිවයක් සිදුවීම විශේෂිත සිදුවීමක් විය. එහිදී සුදුසු ස්ථානයක් තෝරාගැනීමේ සිට අවශ්‍ය සංග්‍රහ කටයුතු මෙහෙයවීම දක්වා විශාල වැඩකොටසක් ඉස්ලාම් නොවන අනෙකුත් ආගමිකයන් විසින් ඉටු කිරීම කැපී පෙනුණි. සහභාගී වූ බොහොමයක් දෙනෙකුට ඉෆ්තාර් සැමරුමක් අත්විදීමට ලැබුණු ප්‍රථම අවස්ථාව එය වූ අතර, වැඩසටහන පුරාවටම විවෘත මනසකින් එය හා එක්ව කටයුතු කිරීම අන්තර් ආගමික සමගියේ මුලික ලක්ෂණ ලෙස අගය කලයුතු බව  අවිවාදිතය.

රට තුළ පවතින දේශපාලන වාතාවරණය හේතුවෙන් කුරුණෑගල දිස්ත්‍රික්කයට අදාළ වැඩසටහන සුම් (Zoom) මාධ්‍යය ඔස්සේ මාර්ගගතව පවත්වන්නට යෙදුනි. එම වැඩසටහනේදී රාමසාන් උත්සවයට අදාළ එක් එක්  සංස්කෘතිකාංග, උපවාසය සහ එහි සංස්කෘතික වැදගත්කම, උපවාසය අත්හැරීම, ඉෆ්තාර් සැමරුම හා ඊද් උත්සවය පිළිබද පැහැදිලි කිරීම් ද වැඩසටහනට ඇතුළත් විය. රාමසාන් උත්සවය හා ඉස්ලාමිය සැමරුම් පිළිබද සියළු ආගම් වලට අයත් ළමුන් සමග අන්තර් ක්‍රියාකාරී සැසියක් ද වැඩසටහන විචිත්‍රවත් කිරීමට සමත් විය.

රාමසාන් සැමරුම පැවැත්වුණේ අන්තර් ආගමික සැමරුම් මාලාව තුළ නත්තල් සහ තෛපොංගල් උත්සව සැමරුම් මාලාවකට පසුව වන අතර, වැඩසටහනට දායක වන දිස්ත්‍රික්ක හතරම ඉදිරියේදී උදාවන වෙසක් උත්සවය නිමිත්තෙන් වෙසක් සැමරුම් සංවිධානය කිරීමටද සුදානම් වෙමින් පවතී.

“සංහිදියාව උදෙසා මන්ත්‍රීවරියෝ” වැඩසටහන, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ දිර්ඝකාලින ආගමික සහජීවනයක් ගොඩනැගීම උදෙසා  සැප්‍රි ආයතනය දරන ප්‍රයත්නයේ නවතම අදියරයි. වසරක් පුරා දිවෙන වැඩසටහනේ ඉදිරි පියවර ලෙස සංස්කෘතික හුවමාරු වැඩසටහන් ලෙස අන්තර් දිස්ත්‍රික් චාරිකා මෙන්ම සංහිදියාව උදෙසා කලා මාධ්‍ය භාවිතාව ද සිදුකිරීමට නියමිතය. 

 

 இப்தார் நிகழ்வு – முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்துடன் இப்தார் தின உற்சாகத்தை பகிர்ந்துக்கொண்ட பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கை சமூகத்தினர்

பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்டவர்களின் பங்குபற்றலுடன் ஒழுங்குசெய்யப்பட்டுள்ள கலாச்சார நிகழ்வுகளின் ஒரு பகுதியாக, அம்பாறை, காலி, குருணாகலை மற்றும் வவுனியா ஆகிய மாவட்டங்களை சேர்ந்த பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்ட சமய தலைவர்கள்;, கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள், சமூக மட்ட செயற்பாட்டாளர்கள் ஆகியோரின் பங்குபற்றலுடன் இப்தார் நிகழ்வுகள் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டு இருந்தது. இந்த நான்கு மாவட்டங்களிலும் இப்தார் நிகழ்வுகள் ஏப்ரல் மாதம் 30 முதல் மே மாதம் 07 ஆம் திகதி வரை இடம்பெற்று இருந்தது. 

இலங்கையின் பிரதான மத நம்பிக்கைகளை பின்பற்றும் சிங்களவர்கள், தமிழர்கள் மற்றும் முஸ்லிம் சமூகத்தை சேர்ந்த சமூகத்தினர் நிகழ்வுகளில் ஆர்வமாக பங்குபற்றி இருந்தனர். சமூக மட்ட செயற்பாட்டாளர்களின் உதவியுடன் கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள் நிகழ்வுகளை ஒழுங்கு செய்திருந்தனர். 

நான்கு இப்தார் நிகழ்வுகளிலும் நோன்பு திறக்கப்பட்டு; விசேட பிரார்த்தனைகள் என்பவற்றுடன் ஒழுங்குசெய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது. நோன்பு திறக்கப்பட்டு அதன்பின்னர் பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்ட சமய பெரியவர்களின் விசேட உரைகள் இடம்பெற்றதுடன் எதிர்காலத்திலும் இவ்வாறான நன்நிகழ்வுகள் இடம்பெற வாழ்த்துக்களை அவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர். மேலும், இப்தார் நிகழ்வுகளின் நிஜத்தை பறைசாற்று வகையில் பல்வேறுபட்ட உணவு வகைகளும் பரிமாற்றப்பட்டன.  

    
ரம்லான் மற்றும் இப்தார் சமய நிகழ்களில் பங்குபெறும் வாய்ப்பு பெரும்பாலான கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள் முதல் தடவையாக அமைந்ததுடன் அவர்கள் மிகுந்த ஆர்வத்துடன் தங்களது கருத்துக்களை தெரிவித்தனர். முஸ்லிம் மதத்தை சாராத கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள் இது தொடர்பான ஆரம்ப கலந்துரையாடல்களில் மிகவும் ஆர்வத்துடன் பங்குபற்றி இருந்ததுடன் மற்றைய சமய நிகழ்வுகள் தொடர்பாக மிகவும் பரந்துபட்ட மனநிலையில் இருந்தமையானது சமூக மட்டத்தில் மத நம்பிக்கைகளிடையேயான ஒற்றுமை விருத்தியடைகின்றமையை பறை சாற்றுகிறது. இந்த நிகழ்வுகளின் குறிக்கோளானது கலாச்சாரங்கள் தொடர்பான அறிவு விருத்தியும், சமூகங்களிடையே ஒருமைபாட்டையும் விருத்தி செய்வதும் ஆகும்.   

தற்போது நாட்டில் எழுந்துள்ள அரசியல் நிலவரங்களின் காரணமாக குருணாகலை மாவட்ட கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள், சமூக பிரதிநிதிகள் (ணுழழஅ) சூம் தொழிநுட்பத்தின் ஊடாக ரம்லான் நிகழ்வுகளில் பங்குபற்றினார்கள். நிகழ்வுகளின் போது ஈத் பெருநாள் கொண்டாட்டம், நோன்பு நோற்றல் மற்றும் அதன் முக்கியத்துவம், ரம்லான் மாதத்தின் விசேட அம்சங்கள் போன்ற விடயங்கள் பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்ட சமய பெரியார்களினால் கலந்துரையாடப்பட்டது. சப்ரி நிறுவனத்தின் இதர திட்டங்கள் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்படும் மாவட்டங்கள், அம்பாறை, காலி மற்றும் வவுனியா ஆகியவற்றை அடிப்படையாக கொண்டு ரம்லான் நிகழ்வுகள் தொடர்பாக பல்வேறுபட்ட மதங்களை சேர்ந்த சிறுவர்களுக்கு வீடியோ காட்சிகள் மூலம் தெளிëட்டப்பட்டது. 

இஸ்லாமிய கலாச்சரத்தின் விடயங்களை தெளிவுப்படுத்தும் நிகழ்விற்கு பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கையாளர்களும், பல்வேறு வயது பிரிவினரும் ஆர்வத்துடன் ஈடுபட்டமை ஊக்கமான விடயமாக இருந்தது. நிகழ்வின் விசேட அம்சமாக பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்ட சமய பெரியவர்களின் வாழ்த்துக்களும், ஒற்றுமை தொடர்பான விசேட உரைகளையும் குறிப்பிடலாம். 

கலாச்சாரங்கள் தொடர்பான அறிவு விருத்தியும், சமூகங்களிடையேயான உணர்திறன் மேம்பாடு ஆகியவற்றை அடிப்படையாக கொண்டு ஏற்பாடு செய்யபட்டிருந்த இயலுமை அபிவிருத்தி செயலமர்வு தொடர்களின் வெற்றியின் வெளிப்பாடகவே இந் நிகழ்வுகள் அமைந்தன.

சமய ஒற்றுமையை மேம்ப்டுத்தும் சப்ரி நிறுவனத்தின் நீண்டகால அர்ப்பணிப்பின் விரிவாக்கமான கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள் ஊடாக நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தல் எனும் சப்ரி நிறுவனத்தின் திட்டத்தின் ஒரு செயற்பாடாக இது ஏற்பாடு செய்யபட்டது.       

அம்பாறை, காலி, குருணாகலை மற்றும் வவுனியா ஆகிய மாவட்டங்களை சேர்ந்த கௌரவ உள்;ராட்சி பெண் பிரதிநிதிகள், பல்வேறுபட்ட மத நம்பிக்கைகொண்ட சமய தலைவர்கள்;, சமூக மட்ட செயற்பாட்டாளர்கள் ஆகியோரின் பங்குபற்றலுடன் கிட்டதட்ட ஒருவருட கால பங்குபற்றலுடன் மேற்க்கொள்ளப்பட்ட இச் செயற்பாடுகளுக்கான நிதி உதவியினை நெதர்லாந்து இராச்சியத்தின் தூதுவர் காரியலாயம் மேற்க்கொண்டது.

 

 

 

 

 

Women Councilors in Ampara join SAPRI for Integrated Pest Management

Women Councilors in Ampara join SAPRI for Integrated Pest Management 

Participants at the Kalmunai program

Following its initiative to empower newly elected women local government members, South Asia Policy & Research Institute (SAPRI), organized a training program on Integrated Pest Management  (IPM) in Ampara which was coordinated by women local government councilors of the district. The programme held from 2^nd to 6^th of March 2020 was conducted in Ampara, Akkaraipattu, Ninthavur, Kalmunai and Uhana. The Embassy of the Netherlands provided support to the programme.

Training session in progress & Councilor Jeseema addresses session

Women Local Government Councilors Hon. Margret Wickramasinghe, Hon. Toroshini Suriyaarachchi, Hon. Ashoka Sandya Kumari, Hon. Sugandhi Shavika, Hon. S. Induja, Hon. A.R. Selesthina, Hon. K. Puwaneswari, Hon. U.S.Sameena, Hon. Thamara Dissanayake, Hon. M. Maduranjani, and Hon. K.M. Jaseema, among others representing multiple political parties participated in the training programme together with farmers and Agriculture Field Extension Officers who were the main target groups.  

Mr H.D. Lakmal, Mr A. Jailabdeen, and, Mr. A.H.P. Rajakaruna, Agriculture Instructors at Provincial and Inter-Provincial levels, undertook the training on IPM.

The program commenced with a formal inauguration in which senior government representatives in agriculture from the province as well as interprovincial sections including Mr. M.F.A Zaneer- Deputy Director of Agriculture (Inter-Provincial) participated.  Addressing the gathering Mr. Zaneer introduced the concept of IPM and explained its relevance. Mr. Nishan Dissanayake of the Embassy of Netherlands and Mr Thanura Mendis representing SAPRI were present on this occasion.

Harmful insects & friendly insect

The series of programs was designed as a response to the excessive use of pesticides on crops, which has become both an environmental and public health issues in Sri Lanka. The IPM concept focuses on using a collection of ecofriendly and scientific methods to prevent pest inflicted damage to crops. The limitation on the usage of agrochemicals through more healthy, natural, and economic means forms the core of the concept, with a reservation of pesticides as the last resort. The program consisted of indoor theoretical training as well as field visits to provide a practical understanding of the concepts.

The participants appreciated the introduction to the concepts of integrated pest management with an understanding of its importance to sustainable agriculture. They expressed their enthusiasm to participate in similar initiatives in the future, with the support of the trainers and organizers.

The training program was a response to a request of Women Local Government Councilors in Ampara District to the Ambassador of Netherlands for assistance towards the district’s agricultural development, during SAPRI’s initiative to empower Women Local Government Members. SAPRI’s program had a dedicated component in which senior diplomats from foreign missions in Sri Lanka met with women local government councilors to share their experiences as women leaders.

The following video reflects Hon. Suganthi Shavika addressing the group  during  field visit in Uhana

කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික් කාන්තා පළාත් ආණ්ඩු සභිකාවන් පළමුවන දිස්ත්‍රික් ක්‍රියාකාරකම කොලොන්නාවේදී පවත්වයි: තේමාව- “සංහිදියාව සහ ජාතික ආරක්ෂාව”

සැප්‍රි (SAPRI) ආයතනය විසින් නෙදර්ලන්ත තානාපති කාර්යාලයේ සහාය ඇතිව 2018 මැයි මස සිට 2019 මැයි මස දක්වා මෙහෙයවූ කාන්තා පළාත් පාලන සභිකාවන් “සවි බල ගැන්වීමේ” වැඩ සටහන 2019 මැයි මස 24 වන දින අවසන් වූ අතර ඉදිරි ගමන උදෙසා “ මාර්ග සිතියමක්” සභිකාවන් විසින් එදින පිළියෙළ කරන ලදී.

කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ සභිකාවන් විසින්  සකස් කරන ලද මාර්ග සිතියමට අනුකූලව කොලොන්නාව නගර සභාවෙහි සභිකාවන් විසින් පළමු වැඩසටහන, ගංගානි උෂාන්ති පෙරේරා සභිකාවගේ මූලිකත්වයන් 2019 ජූනි මස 1 වන දින, කොලොන්නාවේදී පවත්වන ලදී.  මැයි 24 දින රැස්වීමේ දී  ප්‍රකාශ කළ පරිදි, මෙම වැඩසටහන සාර්ථකව පැවැත්වීමට ඔවුන්ට හැකි වූ අතර, වැඩසටහන සංවිධානය කිරීම සදහා වැය කලේ සතියක් වැනි කෙටි කාලයක් පමණි.

විවිධ දේශපාලන පක්ෂ නියෝජනය කරමින් කොළඹ මහ නගර සභාව, දෙහිවල-ගල්කිස්ස මහ නගර සභාව සහ කොළොන්නාව නගර සභාවේ සභිකාවන් 11 දෙනෙක් මෙම වැඩසටහනට සහභාගි වූහ. කොළඹ දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ පළාත් ආණ්ඩු ආයතනයන්හි පුරුෂ නියෝජිතයන් මෙන්ම ප්‍රජා නියෝජිතයන්ද මෙම වැඩසටහනට සම්බන්ධ වුහ.

“සංහිදියාව සහ ජාතික ආරක්ෂාව” යන මාතෘකාව වැඩ සටහනෙහි තේමාව විය.

මෙම අවස්ථාවට සියලු ආගම්වල පූජකවරුන් සම්බන්ධ වුහ. බෞද්ධ ස්වාමින් වහන්සේලා සිව්නමක් විසින් සෙත් පිරිත් ගායනා කළ අතර හින්දු, ඉස්ලාම්, කතෝලික/ක්‍රිස්තියානි ආගමික පූජකවරුන් විසින් ආගමික වතාවත් පවත්වන ලදී.  පූජ්‍ය පක්ෂය විසින් මෙම අවස්ථාවේ දේශනා පැවැත්වීමද කරන ලදී.

හිටපු හමුදාපති දයා රත්නායක මහතා විසින් පවත්වන ලද ප්‍රධාන දේශනය සමඟ වැඩසටහන ආරම්භ විය.

ප්‍රජාව නියෝජනය කරමින්  අදහස් දැක්වීමට සාමාජිකයන්ට ආරාධනා කිරීමෙන් පසුව ඔවුන් සාර්ථක අන්දමින් සංහිඳියාවේ අවශ්‍යතාවය පැහැදිලි කළ අතර ගුණධර්ම සහ සමානාත්මතාවය වර්ධනය කිරීමේ වැඩසටහන් ඉදිරියට ගෙනයාමේ අවශ්‍යතාවය අවධාරණය කරන ලදී.

වැඩසටහන අවසානයේ සහබාගී වූ සැම දෙනාම එකතුව ජාතික ගීය ගායනා කරන ලදි.

වැඩසටහන නිම වීමෙන් පසු ප්‍රධාන සංවිධායිකා  ගංගානි උෂාන්ති පෙරේරා සභිකාතුමිය මෙසේ ප්‍රකාශ කරන ලදී. 

“සංහිඳියාව හා ජාතික ආරක්ෂාව උදෙසා පැවැත්වු වැඩසටහනට සහභාගි වු අපේ කාන්තා පක්ෂයේ සියළුම සහෝදරියන්ට හා මෙවැනි වැඩසටහන් සංවිධානය කිරීමට දැනුම හා අපගේ කුසලතා නංවාලන SAPRI ආයතනයේ ගීතා ද සිල්වා මැතිනිය ඇතුළු සියළු දෙනාට මගේ ගෞරවනීය  ස්තූතිය”  

-කොලොන්නාවේ ගංගානි උෂාන්ති-

පාස්කු බෝම්බ ප්‍රහාරයෙන් පසුව මතුවූ සමාජ අස්ථාවරත්වයට ප්‍රතිචාරයක් වශයෙන් කාන්තා සභිකාවන් විසින් සංවිධානය කරන ලද මෙම වැඩසටහන කාලීනව වැදගත් අවස්ථාවක් වන්නේ මෙම  බිම් මට්ටමේ කාන්තා නියෝජිතවරියන් බහුතරයක් 2018 වර්ෂයේ පළාත් පාලන මැතිවරණයේ දී 25%ක ප්‍රතිශතය ක්‍රියාවට නැංවීමත් සමග දේශපාලන ක්‍ෂේත්‍රයට අවතීර්ණ වූ අය වීමයි. 

එමෙන්ම, කොළොන්නාව නගර සභාවේ කාන්තා සභිකාවන්ගේ පුරෝගාමී මෙහෙවර, දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ ප්‍රමුඛ පළාත් පාලන ආයතනයන් කිහිපයක් එක්ව ක්‍රියාත්මක වීම සහ  දේශපාලන පක්ෂපාතිත්වය නොතකා කාන්තා පෙරමුණක් ලෙස  එක්වීමට දරන උත්සාහයක් ලෙස ප්‍රශංසනීය වේ.

கொழும்பு மாவட்ட உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களினால் கொலன்னாவ பிரதேசத்தில் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட செயற்திட்டம்

தென் ஆசியக் கொள்கை மற்றும் ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவகத்தின்; (ளுயுPசுஐ) உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களை வலுப்படுத்தும் நிகழ்ச்சித் திட்டத்தின் இறுதி நிகழ்வானது 24.05.2019 அன்று கொழும்பு, வவுனியா, கம்பாஹ, அம்பாறை ஆகிய மாவட்டங்களை சேர்ந்த உள்@ராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களின் பங்குபற்றலுடன்; இடம்பெற்றது. அதன்போது, அடுத்த கட்ட நடவடிக்கைகள் தொடர்பான முன்மொழிவுகளும் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டன. அதன் பிரகாரம் கொழும்பு மாவட்ட உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களினால் கொலன்னாவ பிரதேசத்தில் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட செயற்திட்டமானது முதன்மையானதாக அமைந்திருந்தது. இந் நிகழ்ச்சித் திட்டமானது நெதர்லாந்து உயர்ஸ்தானிகர் காரியாலயத்தின் உதவியுடன் நடைமுறைப்படுத்துகின்றது. 

குறிப்பிட்ட செயற்திட்டமானது 01.06.2019 அன்று கொலன்னாவ பிரதேசத்தில் கொலன்னாவ உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களினால் கௌரவ உறுப்பினர் கங்கானி உசான்தி பெரேராவின் தலைமையில் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது. உண்மையில், வெறும் ஏழு நாட்களில் இதனை ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்;தமை மிகவும் குறிப்பிடதக்க விடயமாகும். 

கொழும்பு மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த பல்வேறு அரசியல் கட்சிகளின் 11 உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களின் இந் நிகழ்வில் பங்குகொண்டனர். அவர்கள் கொழும்பு மற்றும் தெஹிவளை மாநகர சபைகள் மற்றும் கொலன்னாவ பிரதேச சபை ஆகிய உள்ளுராட்சி மன்றங்களை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தி இருந்தனர்;. கொழும்பு மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த உள்ளுராட்சி ஆண் உறுப்பினர்களும் கலந்துக்கொண்டதுடன், கொலன்னாவ சமூக பிரதிநிதிகளும் முக்கிய பங்குபற்றுனர்களாக அமர்ந்து இருந்தனர். 

இந் நிகழ்வின் கருப்பொருளானது “தேசிய பாதுகாப்பும், நல்லிணக்கமும்” ஆகும்.

அனைத்து சமய பெரியார்களினதும் இறைவணக்கத்துடன் நிகழ்வானது ஆரம்பமானது. பௌத்த மத பிக்குவினால் ‘செத் பிரித்’ ஓதப்பட்டதுடன் அதனை தொடர்ந்து இந்து, இஸ்லாம் மற்றும் கிறிஸ்த்தவ சமயங்களின் இறைவணக்கம்  செலுத்தப்பட்டது. பௌத்த மத பிக்குவினால் ஒரு சொற்பொழிவும் மேற்க்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.  

  

நிகழ்வின் பிரதான உரையானது முன்னாள் இராணுவ தளபதி தயா ரத்நாயக்கவினால் பல்லின சமூகமும், பல சமயங்களும் உடைய எமது நாட்டில் இன ஒற்றுமையை கட்டியெழுப்புவதன் முக்கியத்துவம் தொடர்பாக அமைந்திருந்தது. 

சமூக பிரதிநிதிகளுக்கு இது தொடர்பாக தங்களது கருத்துக்களை தெரிவிக்க சந்தர்ப்பம் வழங்கப்பட்டதுடன், அவர்கள் நல்லிணக்கத்தின் அனுகூலங்கள் தொடர்பாக சிறப்பாக தங்களது கருத்துக்களை முன்வைத்ததுடன் செயற்திட்டங்கள் மூலம் அவ்வாறான ஒற்றுமையும், நல்லிணக்கமும் பேணப்படவேண்டும் என்று தெரிவித்தனர். 

நிகழ்வின் இறுதியில் அனைவரும் இணைந்து தேசிய கீதத்தை பாடினார்கள்.

இறுதி உரையில் கொலன்னாவ பிரதேச உறுப்பினரும் இந் நிகழ்வின் பிரதான ஏற்பாட்டாளருமான கங்கானி உசான்தி பெரேரா குறிப்பிடும் போது “தேசிய பாதுகாப்பும், நல்லிணக்கமும்” எனும் தொனிப்பொருளில் இடம்பெற்ற இந் நிகழ்வில் பங்குபற்றிய எனது சக பெண் உறுப்பினர்களுக்கு எனது கௌரவமான நன்றிகளை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கின்றேன். மேலும் இவ்வாறான ஒரு நிகழ்வை ஏற்பாடு செய்வதற்கு தேவையான அறிவையும், இயலுமையையும் பெற்று தந்தமை தொடர்பில் திருமதி கீதா டி சில்வா மற்றும் தென் ஆசியக் கொள்கை மற்றும் ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவகத்தின் அனைத்து ஊழியர்களுக்கும் எமது  நன்றிகள்.”என குறிப்பிட்டார். 

இந் நிகழ்வானது காலத்திற்கு ஏற்ற முக்கியமானதொன்றாகும். கடந்த ஈஸ்டர் தாக்குதலுக்கு பின்னர் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள சமூக முரண்பாடுகளின் அடிப்படையில் மேற்படி நிகழ்வானது உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்களால் நடாத்தப்பட்டது.  2018 உள்ளுராட்சி தேர்தலின் மூலமாக 25மூ ஒதுக்கீடு மூலமாக புதிதாக தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட சமூகத்தின் அடிமட்ட பெண் உறுப்பினர்கள் இவ்வாறான முக்கியமான விடயம் தொடர்பில் தங்களை வெளிக்கொண்டு வந்துள்ளனர். 

மேலும், அரசியல் வேறுபாடுகளை தவிர்த்து பெண் என்ற அடையாளத்தை முன்னிலைப்படுத்தி மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த அனைத்து  உள்ளுராட்சி பெண் உறுப்பினர்கள் மற்றும்  கொலன்னாவ பிரதேச பெண் உறுப்பினர்கள் ஒன்றாக இணைந்து இந் நிகழ்வினை நடாத்தியமை ஒரு மைல்கல்லாக குறிப்பிடலாம்.   

COLOMBO DISTRICT WOMEN COUNCILORS HOLD ACTIVITY IN KOLONNAWA TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION

The Colombo district women councilors were the first to conduct an activity according to the road maps prepared at the final event of SAPRI’s Empowerment Program, held on 24 May 2019, attended by women councilors of Ampara, Colombo, Gampaha and Vavuniya.  The program is assisted by Embassy of the Netherlands.

The event was held on 1 June 2019 in Kolonnawa, organised by the women councilors of the Kolonnawa Urban Council, led by Councilor Gangani Ushanthi Perera. It is remarkable that they were able to accomplish this target within seven days only.

Eleven women Councilors from the Colombo District, representing different political parties were present at the event. They were from the Municipal Councils of Colombo and Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia and the Kolonnawa Urban Council. Male councilors of the local government bodies in the district were also present while representatives from the community in Kolonnwa were prominently seated in the audience.

The theme of the program was “Reconciliation and National Security”.

The event commenced with religious observances of the clergy of all religions present on the occasion. The four Buddhist monks present chanted “Seth Pirith”, following which blessings were offered by the clergy from the Hindu, Islam & Catholic/Christian religions. The clergy also addressed the gathering.

The keynote address delivered by former Army Commander Daya Rathnayake highlighted the importance of harmony in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic society.

Members from the community were invited to deliver remarks and they took the floor explaining effectively the virtues of reconciliation and emphasized the necessity to continue with such harmony and reconciliation enhancing programs.

The event ended with everybody present joining in to sing the national anthem.

On the conclusion of the program Kolonnawa Urban Council member and key organizer of the event Councilor Gangani Ushanthi Perera said “I extend my respectful thanks to all my sister Councilors, who participated in the program on ‘Reconciliation and National Security’, as a women's Front and Mrs. Geetha de Silva & everybody at SAPRI for providing us with knowledge and building our capacities to organize such events”.

The event was significant for its timely relevance. The Women Councilors organized the program as a response to the recent social unrest following the Easter Sunday Bombings. Their response as women representatives at the grassroots level was an important manifestation as they were newly elected women councilors who assumed office through the 25% quota following the 2018 elections.  Also, the effort of Women Councilors from the Kolonnawa Urban Council is a milestone as it brought together a number of women Councilors from different local bodies of the district uniting them as a front of women, regardless of political biases.  

Power to Women: Why SAPRI Thinks It Is A Must?

Though women consist of half the population of most countries, they hardly get the opportunity to play a key role in their countries’ political decision making and implementation processes. Women throughout history have been restricted predominantly to the private sphere, tasked with devoting their time and efforts for the wellbeing of the family institution. Accordingly, a political culture dominated by men has manifested throughout the world, and the lack of women’s active political involvement is widely argued to be a key attribute of indecorous political cultures. Also, women’s role as vital        stakeholders in the manifestation and sustenance of peace and security in a world of conflict and chaos, is duly appreciated. Thus, in recognition of women’s role in social progress, South Asia Policy & Research Institute (SAPRI) has long considered Empowerment of Women as a key focal area on its agenda.

SAPRI believes that the absence of women in mainstream politics deprives the society of their contribution to include qualities women are uniquely known to have, such as commitment, dedication, empathy and focus coupled with a deeper understanding, in policy making and implementation. However, to enable women to come forward and assume social responsibilities, an attitudinal change associated with education and carefully structured training is required, as a means to empower them. A gradual and significant change of mindset from that of a caretaker to a decision maker and initiator is likely to bring forth the best in women, for the benefit of the whole.  

The much-reduced presence of women in the political arena of Sri Lanka deprives the society of the benefit of comprehensive frameworks that can be achieved by having all key players in the decision-making process. According to data in 2015, in the parliamentary level, the percentage of women leaders is 6.7%, the level of provincial council’s percentage is 4% and 1.4% was the percentage of women leaders in local governance. In recognition of the need to increase women’s active involvement in politics, SAPRI had been conducting workshops for present and potential women political activists in several districts of the country. 

With the window of opportunity provided by the advent of the 25% quota, SAPRI recognized that the majority of over 2000 Women Councilors elected hardly had any prior experience in politics. Further prompted by continuous requests by Women Councilors, SAPRI was persuaded to answer to the need of the hour with an effort aimed at equipping newly elected Women Councilors with necessary capacities to succeed as public representatives, and proceed towards higher levels in political participation. Thus, the initiative to empower newly elected Women Local Government Councilors was commenced by SAPRI, with the assistance of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and conducted in the districts of Ampara, Colombo, Gampaha and Vavuniya.  during a one year period, from May 2018 to May 2019.