Sri Lanka celebrates Int'l Women's Day

Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka celebrates the International Women's Day today under the theme of `Her Knowledge and Energy for Awakening Nation'.

The National ceremony to mark the day will take place today at the BMICH at 9.00 am with Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Child Development and Women's Empowerment Minister Tissa Karaliyedda and many other guests attending.

Around 2,500 members of Women's Action Organizations will take part. Senior Lecturer of the Colombo University, Dhamma Dissanayake will deliver a special lecture.

Several Sinhala, Tamil and Islamic cultural items will be staged during the ceremony. Awards and gifts to be presented to five women who showed special skills in different fields. Under the Mahinda Chintanaya the Ministry has taken several steps to ensure the safety and well-being of Sri Lankan women.

Women represent over 51 per cent of the total population. That contribution to the national production exceeds 60 percent.