‘Herstories’ – Sri Lankan Women Exhibition
This
archival project is first of a series of Sri Lankans’ histories that focuses on mothers from the South and North. It highlights their strength in the face of adversity, and their hopes for their children’s and Sri Lanka’s future. Mothers are guardians of their family history. They are the pillars of strength upon which a family is built. As such, this project chooses to archive mothers’ stories, recording the story of an entire family.
These histories or ‘Herstories’ not only showcase a shared history, but show how we Sri Lankans are rooted in multiple identities, multiple histories, and different experiences. Through the narratives of many, this project will highlight a collective sense of fundamental humanness and ‘Sri Lankanness’ that transcend boundaries.
These ‘Herstories’ will not only add to the culture of oral tradition and story telling in Sri Lanka, they will contribute to bringing diverse groups together and the preservation of history through the ‘voices of those that lived it’ for future generations of Sri Lankans.
The project has collected 230 oral histories recounting personal histories, experiences and hopes – some through hand-written letter; some through photo essays; some through short video; and some through mapping and visual story telling exercises. They have been translated and are available in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
“There was general agreement that the possibility of increased radicalization of the Muslim population in Sri Lanka, especially on the east coast, exists given that the community is marginalized in many ways and has suffered during the twenty-five years of fighting between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). That said, there was also general agreement that there are no concrete signs that “jihadis” are gaining ground in any systematic way and that the government tended to overplay the possibility in the knowledge that it is an issue more likely to catch the eye of G8 after 9/11.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable discusses the ”Ideological radicalization” in Sri Lanka. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” and written on April 09, 2006. The cable is signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
April 7, 2013
This 
archival project is first of a series of Sri Lankans’ histories that focuses on mothers from the South and North. It highlights their strength in the face of adversity, and their hopes for their children’s and Sri Lanka’s future. Mothers are guardians of their family history. They are the pillars of strength upon which a family is built. As such, this project chooses to archive mothers’ stories, recording the story of an entire family.
These histories or ‘Herstories’ not only showcase a shared history, but show how we Sri Lankans are rooted in multiple identities, multiple histories, and different experiences. Through the narratives of many, this project will highlight a collective sense of fundamental humanness and ‘Sri Lankanness’ that transcend boundaries.
The project has collected 230 oral histories recounting personal histories, experiences and hopes – some through hand-written letter; some through photo essays; some through short video; and some through mapping and visual story telling exercises. They have been translated and are available in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
A sample collection will be presented through a traveling exhibition in Colombo, Galle and Ampara. The entire collection will also be archived online at www.herstoryarchives.org. The originals will be presented to the National Archives in Sri Lanka for posterity. This will ensure that it remains a living history.
‘Herstories’ will be on in Colombo on April 6 and 7 at the Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt, in Ampara from April 20-21 at the Christa Illam Hall, Kalmunai and in Galle on April 27 -28 at an as yet undecided venue. Collaborators on the project include the organisation Viluthu, Sharni Jayawardena and November Productions
WikiLeaks: No Concrete Signs “Jihadis” Are Gaining Ground In Sri Lanka – G8 Ambassadors In SL
By Colombo Telegraph -April 7, 2013
“There was general agreement that the possibility of increased radicalization of the Muslim population in Sri Lanka, especially on the east coast, exists given that the community is marginalized in many ways and has suffered during the twenty-five years of fighting between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). That said, there was also general agreement that there are no concrete signs that “jihadis” are gaining ground in any systematic way and that the government tended to overplay the possibility in the knowledge that it is an issue more likely to catch the eye of G8 after 9/11.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
The ambassador wrote; “DCM attended an April 12 local G8 CTAG meeting chaired by the Russian Ambassador. Japan, Italy, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and France also participated.”
“All agreed, however, on the wisdom of remaining engaged with the Muslim community in Sri Lanka in order to promote moderation and to encourage Muslim participation in seeking solutions to longstanding ethnic strife. Beyond that, the meeting participants used the occasion to compare notes on various G8 members’ efforts to monitor LTTE fundraising and other activities in their respective countries.” the ambassador further wrote.
