Changing times and unchanged challenges

Suharshi Perera

A woman being appointed to the top most position of a Government department is not common in Sri Lanka. If it is the post of Director General then it is usually assumed to be a male preserve. But changing the direction and bringing a host of changes D.B.P.S Vidyarathne has been appointed the Director General of the Census and Statistics Department.

Vidyarathne is the first woman head of the Census and Statistics Department in its long history spanning about sixty years.

Unassuming in manner she unveiled her thoughts on being the Director General. "Dealing with 1700 staff working in 40 divisions is no little task," she says. The experience she has earned through working closely with the former Director General, when she was the Director, Deputy Director and the Assistant Director has immensely helped her in handling her duties efficiently.

She joined the Department in 1976 as a Statistician after she completed her B.Sc degree with a first class pass in Maths and Physics from the University of Peradeniya. She is a past student of Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya. After her graduation she served as a lecturer at the same university for 1 1/2 years before she joined the Bank of Ceylon where she worked for one year.

"My father being a public servant wanted me to take up the same route. Now my career at the Department is nearly 30 years" she recalled.

"Now I'm the Director General and I'm a wife and a mother (of two daughters). So I have to plan the work at the office as well as at home. My family helps me do house hold work," she says. If women plan out their work and time methodically managing the family and the career is not difficult, she thinks.

The Department is responsible in conducting surveys and providing reliable and timely statistics on the GDP, Construction of the Price Index, labour force data, unemployment and many more to policy makers and planners to formulate development plans. "The department indirectly plays a vital role in developing the country. So it is the responsibility of the public to assist us in providing accurate data and information" she says.

"I always delegate the work among my co-workers and officials. I do not command. I prefer discussions and team work instead" she says.

Daisy weaves for Peace

PATCH WORK: She is a patchwork and embroidery teacher of hundreds of students across the country. Daisy Vittachchi who started as a qualified teacher and dreamt of becoming a montessori teacher ended up as a leading patchwork and handicraft designer of the country.

"A girl of 12 years requested me repeatedly to teach her patchwork after seeing some of my work. Then I started teaching her and that is the first step of my journey which is now 15 years old," she says. Now her patchwork training centres have fanned out in 12 cities islandwide including Kandy, Matara and Galle.

"When I initiated this, some people laughed at me but now they have developed a great interest towards this art. It has become a good pastime for elderly retired people as well as for children," she added.

Vittachchi says that embroidery and patchwork designing is ideal for teaching patience which is lacking in today's families and anywhere else.

"Your mind is calm and occupied and thoughts are concentrated towards something beautiful and delicate," she says. These creations can be used as home decor as well as a gift of love, she says. Vittachchi is getting ready for her 14th annual islandwide patchwork exhibition and competition which will be held on June 24 and 25 at the BMICH.

"The theme of the event is 'Peace'. As Sri Lankans what we all need today is peace. So we have made a long quilt which could be the longest in the country, depicting our anticipation for peace and harmony.

It is a creation of the people from different parts of the country. Some contributors are no more as they became victims of the tsunami. So, their wish for peace is still echoing through this piece of art," she said.

The competition is open for anybody and 120 trophies are on offer. Bedroom decor for all age groups, table decor for different occasions, embroidery and handcraft items will also be on display. "I am planning to open a special category for the embroidery done by elderly people next year. Some are 150 years old and some are undone. Their grandchildren bring us those not knowing how to finish those undone work," she added.

Vittachchi is a mother of two. "I do all my household work without a miss. For anybody this is a good means of income and a pleasurable act. I think the television occupies most of our precious time, that's why we complain about having no time," she says.