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| Wednesday, 6 August 2003 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka (BPW SL) has made arrangements to set up the world's first Global Peace Village in Illukpitiya in the Polonnaruwa district for needy war victimed refugees (Internally Displaced Persons) from three completely destroyed villages. Presently, five homes have been built with the assistance of BPW International and friends locally and abroad. The main objective of this project is promoting peace and harmony among all communities and encouraging them to build their own future without waiting for assistance, the Project Chairperson, Global Peace Villages 2003, Janaki Gunawardene said. She said that about 150 houses are to be built under this project. Each family will own a land of 40 perches. The village will have three clusters of houses. A sum of Rs.50,000 will be provided for each family for cement and sand. The lands are already allocated for the project. Water and electricity will also be provided for them. 250 acres will be allocated for cultivation. Each family will have a cow. A small hospital will also built under the same project. The LTTE has also extend their support towards this project. The village will forge towards being an independent and sustainable entity. The assets of the village will not be owned by a single person or a family. Therefore, the income generated from a mixed agro-livestock farm and SMEs will be shared by the village. The villagers will have contacts with the donors who contribute to build their houses and will have their guidance. The project is co-ordinated by the Sri Lanka Army, local government agencies and the MPs of the relevant area. Three years ago, the members of BPW Sri Lanka visited Illukpitiya with dry rations and realised the need for a sustainable project to restore human dignity and contribute towards the development of the country, she said. Several fund raising events will take place in October, 2003 to raise funds for the Global Peace Village. Conference on International Peace and BPW South Asia Regional Meeting will be held from October 10 to 14, 2003. The International Trade Fair will take place from October 10 to 12. A Festival of Traditional Brides and Dancers of the World will be held on October 11. All three events will take place at the BMICH, Colombo 7. ANCL is the media sponsor for the project. BPW was founded in 1919 by Dr.Lena Madesin Phillips in St.Louise, Missouri, USA. She moved thousands of women and prompted them to give their best for a better and safer world. When important women of sixteen countries came together in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 1936, the Federation of Business and Professional Women International was formed. The federation has now spread to over 125 countries. In 1993 Ms. Janaki Gunawardena founded Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka with affiliation to BPW International. The organisation has a membership of about 1000. |
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