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| Monday, 19 July 2004 |
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The Sri Lanka Mahila Samithi is one of the oldest NGOs in Sri Lanka. It has its deep roots spread to many remote villages all over the country. With very meagre assistance from the central government, this organisation has made a remarkable contribution to the re-awakening of the women particularly in remote village areas. The encouragement and the guidance given to the rural women by this mother-organisation is remarkable. Many village level Mahila Samithis have trained the women in self-employment by giving them the opportunity for training in various cottage industries, state Amaradasa Gunewardana, president of Sri Lanka-Belgium Association in a press release. In addition to these activities the Mahila Samithi has a large number of daycare centres and pre-schools for small children scattered all over the island. The pre-schools nearly 150 in number are managed with very basic facilities which are absolutely inadequate. This NGO however important and old it is, has no financial resources even to renovate the dilapidated buildings of the pre-schools. The requests made to the Provincial and Central Government Authorities have not brought the desired results. These requirements were considered by the Sri Lanka-Belguim Association with a view to getting assistance from the NGO called Adoptie Sri Lanka in Belgium. The Chairman of this Belgium NGO is Gaston Dillen who is a regular visitor to Sri Lanka and who has financed many projects in Sri Lanka during the last 20 years. His silent service to the poor in Sri Lanka is definitely praiseworthy. The Secretary to this Belgium NGO, John Vandijck in consultation with the chairman has agreed to finance the first lap of the reconstruction and reorganisation of one hundred of most neglected preschools. A sum of Rs. 72,000 has been initially granted to Sri Lanka Mahila Samithi through Sri Lanka-Belguim Association. The Belgium delegates from Adoptie Sri Lanka will be visiting the Head Quarters of the Lanka Mahila Samithi in Kaduwela at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday 24th July 2004 he adds. |
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