The Peace Expo and Colombo Food Festival 2017 will be held at Premakeerthi de Alwis Mawatha, Independence Square, on December 9 and 10. This year is the second installation of the event, aimed at providing a platform to showcase and promote human rights activism.
Organized by Road to Rights, a youth led Organization, this year’s lineup includes a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Media Zone held on both days, and International Human Rights Day Celebrations on December 10. Founder and President of Roads to Rights, Ashan Perera said, the walk will commence at the Independent Square premises at 4pm. “Following the walk, there will be a National Celebration at 7 pm. President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and United Nations representatives are expected to grace the occasion,” he said.
Perera added that the event is a convergence of several parties interested in human rights related activities. “At this Expo, young people can walk in and select different projects to volunteer in, according to their preference. At the same time, the event motivates youth led volunteer groups to work hard on their respective projects, to bring something solid to the Expo.
Also, individuals and groups interested in investing and supporting these projects can meet outstanding young individuals, with new concepts, and build partnerships with them,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of the Food Festival, Perera said, food is an important aspect in embedding concepts such as, peace, reconciliation and human rights, into basic aspects of everyday life. “Food brings different cultures and communities together, and acts as an incentive for people to walk into the Peace Expo,” Perera said.
The Food Festival will display an array of dishes from many cuisines, including, Maldivian, Indian, Turkish, South East Asian and German.
Perera said, the SDG Media Zone will hold discussions on SDGs, human rights and youth. The media zone is aimed at entrepreneurs, policy makers, decision makers, social media advocates and young journalists.
The Peace Expo and Colombo Food Festival is an entrance free event. The event is held in collaboration with the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation and UNSDG action campaign. Road to Rights is a youth led, nonprofit organization, which began operations in 2009, with the aim of promoting human rights, and currently has chapters in 14 different countries.