Canada assists war affected women

August 19, 2011, 9:34 pm 

Canada has provided financial support to local NGO, War Affected Women (WAW) to conduct a series of workshops and exhibitions in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for the benefit of women in the post-war period.

The Canadian contribution of over Rs 2.5 million would facilitate the WAW to hold two-day exhibitions in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Jaffna, an Embassy spokesperson told The Island.

She said that the exhibition would include two daily workshops conducted in Sinhala and Tamil for 50 participants.   

An Embassy press stated: "The exhibition hopes to draw attention to the importance of multiple roles undertaken by women within different structures and various circumstances in the society and highlight the achievements and contributions of Sri Lankan women in the international arena. Another salient feature will be the showcasing of political leadership of women spanning half a century as well as seventy years of women’s political participation in the country. Organizations working on women’s protection issues will display and create public awareness of the ever increasing violence against women. Dramas and other aesthetic performances will assist in getting the message across to the public.

The mobile Exhibitions will be held in Mannar, Vavuniya, Killinochchi and Mullaithivu enabling the war affected women of North and East to interact with senior women politicians thus enabling them to understand the issues and the difficulties faced by the war affected women. WAW believe that this will create a great opportunity to find solutions for the various issues that these women encounter.

"Reconciliation is an important and a significant step in the direction to achieve peace and harmony, and the ‘Sthree Mela’ will create an opportunity to dispel any misconceptions between the diverse sectors while fostering understanding" commented the High Commissioner of Canada Bruce Levy.

Canada is a long-standing partner of Sri Lanka and key donor in the international cooperation field. During the current fiscal year, Canadian expenditures on bilateral and emergency programming are expected to total nearly Rs 1.436 billion (CDN $ 12.4 million)."
===================================================

Monk arrested on child abuse charges

Monk arrested on child abuse charges

The senior Buddhist monk is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a 12-year old girl Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a senior Buddhist monk on charges of repeatedly sexually abusing a 12-year old girl. Namalwewa Rathanasara nayake thero was arrested by the police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at Colombo’s international airport when he arrived from Singapore. Producing the chief incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, the police requested the Colombo magistrate Tikiri K Jayathilake to remand him in custody until 24 August. But the magistrate ordered the monk to be taken to police custody and to be produced before Anuradhapura magistrate. A court in Anuradhapura, north central Sri Lanka, has issued a warrant to arrest Rathanasara thero on 12 August but media reports said he has left Sri Lanka after the warrant was issued. Police said Namalwewa Rathanasara thero will remain in Colombo on Sunday as it is not required by law to transfer him within 24 hours.