MINUTES OF THE CORE ADVISORY GROUP (CAG) HELD ON 25H OCTOBER 2004 AT
CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S RESEARCH (CENWOR) AT `11 A.M
Present –
Ms. Jezima Ismail
Ms. Seela Ebert
Prof. Swarna Jayaweera
Ms. Leelangi Wanasundera
Ms. Ranjani Manuelpillai
Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa
Ms. Amara Peeris
Absent -
Ms. Indrani Iriyagolla
Prof. Uma Coomaraswammy
Mr. T.M.KB. Tennakoon
Minutes were confirmed unanimously.
It was proposed to have the next meeting on the 15th of November instead of the 8th as planned
earlier at MWRAF.
As the two institutions of Open University and SLIDA was not represented at this meeting and
due to the importance of the Certificate Course it was decided to send a letter to Prof. Uma
Coomaraswamy (Vice Chancellor of the Open University) and Mr. Tennakoon (Director,
SLIDA) to send a nominee for the meeting when they are unable to attend.
Matters arising from the Minutes
Seela brought to the notice of the Members that a formal approval has been granted by the
Cabinet to a proposal submitted by Hon. Sumedha Jayasena, Minister for Women’s
Empowerment and Social Services on “Promotion of Women Representatives in Local
Government Institutions - at least 33% to be Women”. While agreeing to the proposal in
principle a sub committee has been appointed to work out the operational details. The sub
committee comprises of the following :
Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms Hon. John Seneviratne
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Social Services, Hon. Sumedha Jayasena
Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government Hon. Janaka Bandara Tennakone, and
Minister of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration,, Hon. Dew Gunasekera
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The Cabinet has also asked the committee to submit a report within two weeks. NIU Members
were very interested in this Cabinet Paper as it was discussed to meet some of the
Parliamentarians on this subject by the Members.
It was decided to address key members of Parliament regarding the Grow Declaration and to
send the letter on the Grow letterheads.
All the participants who followed the Professional Development course in USA to be requested
to submit a brief report on the training received at the NIU. A letter to be sent to the participants.
(Action - Seela)
It was also informed that Seela and Jezima met the participants at SLIDA prior to their departure
to USA and the meeting helped them to meet for the first time and also clear some doubts of the
trip.
Report from Leelangi - Model Village at Moneragala
The NGO identified by Cenwor is SEEDO and the village is Pitiyagama. At village level a
women’s society is formed and action has been taken to register the society at the Divisional
Secretariat.
The following priorities have been identified at the Participatory meeting.
Community Hall to be built in order to conduct the Pre School at the premises. At present the
children have to walk 3 kilo meters distance to a school and during the rainy seasons as the roads
are impassable children drop out due to the difficulty in reaching the schools.
The SEEDO committee members will visit the village every week as a monitoring exercise and
the building for the community hall will be completed within the next two weeks. As more
resources are needed a small budget to be prepared to sustain the programme.
1. For pre school
2. Water
3. Roads
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Five Characteristics identified by the Grow I project to be implemented in the model villages.
Report from Seela - Karanvila Model Village – Agromart Foundation
The development of the Playground – The ground was leveled and soil was removed with
funding from NACDAE( National Association in Community Development and Adult
Education). Society members gave voluntary time for all the activities. Transport facilities and
technical guidance was given by the Akmeemana Pradeshiya Saba.
Construction of a Well - NACDAE funded this project with a donation of Rs. 50,000/= (for both
projects Playground and Well). Technical guidance provided by the Pradeshiya Saba and
construction work was done by the villagers.
The construction of the well is yet to be completed as a concrete mixture has to be taken to the
site.
Other activities planned –
1. Soil conservation around the playground.
2. Shramadana campaign to plant 100 plants for re-forestation in assistance with the Pradeshiya
Saba.
Constraints identified
1. Pradeshiya Saba and Divisional Secretary’s assistance and encouragement insufficient.
2. Due to the involvement of many villagers in different political party activities, party
difference sometimes creates barriers for the programme activities.
Follow up of action of this programme was done by a Field Officer attached to the Galle
Agromart District Office. Due to transportation problems, she finds it difficult to visit the
sites in addition to her field activities.
Other needs
1. Training of a member as a Montessori teacher to serve for the village and training to be
obtained from a Professional Institute.
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2. Guidance to develop the Community Hall.
3. Project development through training, Credit facilities and Marketing linkages.
It was mentioned that Agromart could help some of the model villages as there is a new project
of developing model villages in the seven districts of Agromart. Seela informed that this could
be done only if the District Managers have not identified other villages. The model village
concept of Agromart will enhance the activities of the Grow I project. This was an idea
welcomed by all the members as it was felt that networking is a very important joint effort of the
4 organisations. Karanwila (Agromart) Udayapuram (MWRAF) and Pitiyagama (Cenwor) are
the three projects where Agromart could assist.
Amara mentioned that Sarvodaya is continuing their project at Ratnapura with a micro grant of
Rs. 10,000/- as a revolving fund helping the people. Sewing, a boutique and community kitchen
etc. are some of the activities of the village.
Appointment of the NGO Coalition
The members were interested to know the exact role to be played by the NGO coalition. Seela
explained that according to the papers sent by NIU that the NGO coalition will act as a vehicle
for social transformation.
The coalition could include NGOs working on sustainable
development, poverty alleviation, democratic rights, gender and marginalized and the
disenfranchised including the NGOs working in minority areas.
The NGOs are expected to identify participants for the Certificate course to be conducted by
SLIDA and Open University.
All members agreed to the following NGOs to be invited for the Network:
1. Wilpotha Kantha Parshadaya
2. SEEDO (Muslim & Tamil CBO – Ampara)
3. Siyath Foundation
4. Lawyers for Human Rights and Development
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5. Women”s Development Centre
6. Community Development Organisation (Muslim and Tamil CBO,in Puttalam)
7. Institute for Social Development (Plantation Tamil NGO)
8. Sinhala Kantha Sanvidanaya
Reports of the Meetings with Parliamentarians and other policy makers
As it was difficult to get the Parliamentarians to come for meetings especially to discuss the
matter of increasing the number of women in politics it was suggested to organize a luncheon
with the Parliamentarians and media. It was also decided to select from different parties 20 men
and 10 women MPs as a Cabinet paper has already been approved in principle a sub committee
with Indrani Sugathadasa, Ranjini and Seela to report at the next meeting.
The media to be contacted to get their participation. Rupavahini to be contacted by Jezima and
to get the women from the 4 villages to talk on political participation in Sinhala and Tamil. (2
programmes) Indrani S promised to contact the ITN.
The meeting adjourned at 1 p.m.
Seela
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