While the Budget debate kept Parliament in full-flow throughout the week, a special side-line event ‘Celebrating Sri Lanka’s Changemakers’ recognised the achievements of 12 prominent Sri Lankan women.
The profiles of the women were showcased in the Public Entrance area of Parliament.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who was the Chief Guest at the event said it was a “Laudable initiative since it gave an opportunity to salute female achievers of the past while celebrating the present”.
The twelve
The late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s first woman Prime Minister was first elected to Parliament in 1960. She inspired many women to enter politics including her daughter Chandrika who later became President.
After unveiling a portrait of Mrs. Bandaranaike, the Speaker spoke of how she brought honour to the country by becoming an internationally recognised path breaker and through her leadership in the Non Aligned Movement.
The late Dr Wimala de Silva, the first female university Chancellor and founder of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, was felicitated for her contribution to Education.
Dr Premala Sivaprakasapillai Sivasegaram, the first woman to enter the Ceylon University Engineering Faculty, Sumithra Peiris, Sri Lanka’s pioneer female filmmaker, and Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, an international expert on women and children’s rights, the first female Vice Chancellor at Colombo University and the first female Professor of Law, were also honoured. They represent the fields of Science, Arts and Law. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, the first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest and one of four women in the world to accomplish that feat, Dr Asha de Vos, internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist and ocean educator and the first Sri Lankan with a PhD in marine mammal research, were celebrated for their contributions to the fields of Sports and Environment.
Dr Hasini Jayatilaka, breakthrough cancer researcher, Nushelle de Silva, Arts Educator and Social Entrepreneur who was named the Queen’s Young Leader for Sri Lanka in 2016, Princy Mangalika, an activist and social worker who is dedicated to raise awareness about HIV prevention in Sri Lanka, were celebrated for their achievements in the fields of Science, Social Enterprise and Social Activism.
Four of the change-makers, Prof. Savitri Goonasekere, Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala, Dr Asha De Vos and Princy Mangalika attended the event.
Organisers
The event was organised by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (SDGAP).
The SDGAP is a three-year initiative which aims to support Government’s efforts to increase democratic governance and accountability.
“This is a public outreach campaign that celebrates the achievements of influential leaders who are women representing a cross-section of disciplines from politics, education and the arts to sports science and technology,” the USAID said in a press statement. Selection criteria
“Following the initial installation at Parliament, these units will then make up part of a travelling exhibit which would be used in the field by members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
The women profiled in this installation were selected according to a set of criteria which included representation from various fields/sectors, international recognition, impact created, awards and achievements and underrepresented groups.
A second phase will look at moving beyond the national level to the sub-national and grassroots levels. The overall objective is to showcase and provide an arena that documents a living history of Sri Lanka’s women and to provide the Government a public forum to highlight the initiatives and achievements in support of women, girls, under-represented groups or vulnerable populations,” the USAID statement said.
The Speaker said that some of the women featured in the list are still involved as change makers in on-going projects in various fields of social, political and economic activity said, “Recognising them at this juncture, not only encourage them to do even more good, but will also inspire 52 percent of our population of women, to become even more active and inspire them towards greater achievements that will benefit society.
They must be encouraged to mobilise the public through their work for promoting human dignity and reconciliation among communities, as well as for promoting social and economic progress and respect for rule of law and discipline in our society.”
Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala said, “I’m awed to be in the company of all these courageous women. As this exhibition tours the different districts, it is also important to remember that there are equally strong women throughout Sri Lanka who are climbing their own ‘Everest’. This is something we should acknowledge and remember”.
Dr. Asha de Vos said, “So incredibly honoured to have been picked as one of the 12 female Change-Makers.”
52 percent
Nushelle de Silva, wrote on her Twitter account, “Surreal to share that my work with Building Bridges is featured in a travelling exhibition that just opened in Parliament. It feels undeserved, as I’m currently away from Sri Lanka writing my PhD dissertation. I’m so grateful to be sharing this space with so many phenomenal women. ”
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya saidthat some of the women featured in the list are still involved as Change- Makers in on-going projects in various fields of social, political and economic activity, “Recognising them at this juncture, not only encourages them to do even more good, but will inspire the 52 percent of our population who are women to become even more active, inspiring them towards greater achievements that will benefit society. They must be encouraged to mobilise the public through their work for promoting human dignity and reconciliation among communities, as well as for promoting social and economic progress and respect for rule of law and discipline in our society.
“Let me on this occasion also recognise Sri Lankan females who have achieved professional success in almost every profession as doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and in the administrative and foreign service. Today the majority of those entering those professions are females, manifesting not only their abilities but opportunities available to break through glass ceilings.
Nevertheless, adequate participation of females in our social, political and economic system is far from satisfactory. In politics, and in Business, female representation is well below the required levels and constrained by several factors. This needs our attention.”
Pix – Parliament Photographer Nuwan Duminda