MINUTES OF THE CORE ADVISORY GROUP (CAG)
HELD ON 13th FEBRUARY 2006 AT SLIDA
Present
Ms. Jezima Ismail
Prof Swarna Jayaweera
Ms. Seela Ebert
Ms. Ranjini Manuelpillai
Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa
Ms. Indrani Iriyagolla
Mr. T.M.K.B. Tennakoon
Ms. Amara Peiris
Mr. H.M.P.B.Herath
Apologies
Prof Uma Coomaraswamy
Ms. Leelangi Wanasundera
Ms. Jezima Ismail chaired the meeting.
1. Confirmation of the Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12th December 2005 was confirmed
unanimously and adopted.
2. Matters arising out of the Minutes
i. Certificate Award Ceremony – Diploma in Participatory Governance and
Local Leadership – 16th December 2005
The Certificate Award Ceremony which was held on 12th December 2005 was a
successful event. His Excellency Lunstead, the Ambassador for the United States
of America was the Chief Guest and Mr. Murali Krishnamurthi from NIU was the
Guest of Honour. Ms. Angela Gemza, the Information Officer of the US Embassy
also attended the programme. The organizers were happy to welcome the
Ambassador Lunstead’s arrival as it was a last minute decision by him to attend the
programme in place of the Deputy Ambassador who had already confirmed. The
CAG members and the SLIDA faculty appreciated his kind gesture in attending the
ceremony.
Although the programme started on time as scheduled it is regretted that the
Ambassador could not award the certificates to the trainees.
The draw back identified of the first programme was that no practical training was
given with an internship attached to CBOs or NGOs at the grassroots level. It was
agreed to inform the SLIDA Management to include a practical project work with
the NGOs if possible. A module to be prepared separately for this purpose. Indrani
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Iriyagolla volunteered to help the faculty in drawing up the practical programme.
This programme will be more than a visit and preferably to be a project. The
representatives of the 4 NGO’s also agreed to help the participants to get
attachments to various grassroots organizations.
3. Present status of the new Diploma
Although 30 people were called after the selection, only 23
registration in the new programme. Sarvodaya, MWRAF and
promised to send three names of women to be included in the
number of females who are attending are not encouraging. This
ordinated with Mr. Herath the programme Manager of SLIDA.
have reported for
Indrani Irriyagolla
programme as the
matter will be co-
4. Jaya’s email dated 10th February 2006
Contents of Jaya’s email to Seela and Jezima were circulated. It was decided to
discuss further details on 1st March when the CAG members meet next. Jezima
requested the members to spare at least 3 hours on 1st March to discuss Jaya’s email,
Modules and the NGO Coalition activities.
Jaya will be in Sri Lanka in end May and the CAG members were asked to block
June 12th for a discussion prior to the workshop mentioned in Jaya’s email to be held
on 16th June at Hotel Renuka.
Further matters on the NGO Coalition will be discussed when Jaya in Sri Lanka.
5. In addition to encouraging women to get nominations for local government elections
Ranjini suggested that women should be trained on political leadership for them to
lobby for matters that affects their communities. This will be a tool to mobilise the
communities to work on issues related to their respective areas.
Currently the party leadership is receiving applications to obtain nominations for the
local government sector elections in SL. Unfortunately the number of women who
applied are also marginal. If there is a quote given to women by regulations there
will be big demand from the political parties for women candidates.
The next CAG meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 1st March 2006 at
3.30 p.m. at SLIDA
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