MINUTES OF THE CORE ADVISORY GROUP (CAG) HELD ON 13TH SEPTEMBER 2004 AT
MUSLIM WOMEN’S RESEARCH & ACTION FORUM (MWRAF) AT 9 A.M
Present –
Ms. Jezima Ismail
Ms. Seela Ebert
Prof. Swarna Jayaweera
Ms. Indrani Iriyagolla
Mr. T.M..KB. Tennakoon
Ms. Leelangi Wanasundera
Ms. Chulani Kodikara
Ms. Ranjani Manuelpillai
Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa
Mr. H.M.P.B. Herath
Ms. Manel Jayasinghe
Absent -
Prof. Uma Coomaraswammy
Ms. Amara Peeirs
Ms. Jezima Ismail welcomed the members and thanked them for attending the first meeting of
the CAG. Other than Mr. Tennakoon and Ms. Sugathadasa all the others present were members
of the GROW I project.
It was decided that the quorum should be six to hold a meeting and to schedule a meeting once a
month. Ms. Ismail added by saying that it is good to meet once a month to discuss the work of
the CAG and also to make this a platform to meet each other as all of them were involved in
other community development activities, specially connected with women’s development.
It was decided to meet every 2nd Monday from 11 a.m. onwards monthly, unless changed on
requests. The schedule of meetings for the year 2004 is as follows :
25th October 11 a.m. at CENWOR (As Ms. Seela Ebert will be out of the country during the
2nd week of October)
08th November 11 a.m. at Agromart
13th December 11 a.m. at SLIDA
It was also decided to request NIU to provide funds for travel for the members to attend the CAG
meetings as transport fares have increased tremendously during the last few weeks..
Ms. Ebert and Ms. Wanasundera were asked to submit reports on the status of the model villages
of CENWOR and Agromart for the next meeting. It was also decided to submit activity reports
of all 4-model villages so that CAG would request NIU for some funds to ensure the
sustainability of these projects. In a developing country as Sri Lanka it is necessary to maintain
and guide the villagers at least for a period of 5 years to make a definite impact and change.
GROW Declaration
It was noted although the GROW declaration was presented to the Prime Minister and the
Minister of Women’s Affairs at the Symposium on 8th June 2004, so far there had been no feed
back in this regard.
To make an impact and implement proposals of the GROW declaration it was decided to work
out some strategies with the political leaders who are responsible for policy making in the
country.
To meet men and women parliamentarians in Parliament or at a personal level and also to contact
members of the Politbureau –

Ms. Manuelpillai to meet Ms. Larine Perera, Member of Parliament (UNP)

Ms. Ismail to meet Hon. Ferial Ashroff, Minister of Rehabilitation (PA)

Ms. Sugathadasa to meet Hon Susil Prem Jayanth, Minister of Power and Energy (PA) and
Hon. Prime Minister’s Secretary

Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa to meet UNP Secretary General Mr. Weragoda (UNP)

Mr. Tennakoon – JVP members (JVP)

Ms. Ebert to meet Ms. Sita Rajapakse Secretary to the Minister of Women’s Affairs (PA)
Ms. Ebert informed that 08 delegates have been selected to go for the Professional Development
Programme to be held at the NIU from September 20th to October 9th 2004.
They are –
1. Ms. Pradeepa Serasinghe, SLIDA
2. Ms. Neranjala Jayasundara, SLIDA
3. Dr. Mahim Mendis, Open University
4. Mr. T.M.K.B. Tennekoon, SLIDA
5. Dr. Wijaya Jayatilaka, University of Peradeniya
6. Mr. H.M.P.B. Herath, SLIDA
7. Dr. Shironica Karunanayake, Open University
8. Ms. Nandani Gunasekera, Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance
On a suggestion made by Mr. Tennekoon a meeting was fixed for 15th September at SLIDA at 5
p.m. to meet the delegates who are due to leave for USA to follow the Professional Development
Course. They will get an opportunity to get to know and interact with each other. Chairperson
Ms. Ismail and Ms. Ebert to be present and who ever who are free (due to short notice) will
attend the meeting at SLIDA.
Seela Ebert
Manager - GROW II