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International Day of Peace Celebrated in Sri Lanka
Written by Dr. Chula Senaratne, Secretary General, UPF-Sri Lanka
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Gampola, Sri Lanka - A youth workshop and shramadana campaign (volunteer manual work) was jointly organized by the UPF-Sri Lanka and the UN Information Center in Sri Lanka to mark the UN International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2014 under the patronage of the Divisional Secretariat of Doluwa in Gampola and the Anuradha Jayaratne Foundation.
The foundation stone was laid by Attorney at Law Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne (member of the Central Provincial Council and the son and private secretary of the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka) to build a house for a needy family in the village. Manual skilled and unskilled labor work was provided free of charge by the village youths for the building of the house. In Sri Lankan language it is called “Shramadana” (donation of labor). The ceremony was conducted according to the Sri Lankan traditional practices, and Mrs. W.G. Ramya Kumari, youth coordinator of the Divisional Secretariat of Doluwa,Gampola, explained to the gathering about the importance of the UN International Day of Peace.
The UN International Day of Peace 2014 was also commemorated at the Panwilathenna Central School in Gampola. A youth workshop was organized to discuss about the theme chosen by the UN, “The Rights of Peoples to Peace” and the role of youth in achieving this. Attorney at Law Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne was the chief guest at this occasion.
Mrs. Ramya Kumari, youth coordinator of the Divisional Secretariat of Doluwa, Gampola delivered the welcome address, and Dr. Chula Senaratne, secretary general of UPF-Sri Lanka, introduced the mission of UPF. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message was delivered by Mrs. Kumari Wickramasinghe, officer in charge of the UN Information Center in Sri Lanka.
Mr. P.G. Bandara, divisional secretary of Doluwa, Gampola, shared his experience and the relevance of this year’s UN International Day of Peace theme “The Right of Peoples to Peace” to the post-war reconciliation in the multi-ethnic Sri Lankan society. Mr. Ranjit Bandara, a trainer on youth leadership and career guidance, elaborated on the theme’s relevance to youth in their personal development as well as the development of the whole country.
In conclusion the participants, were presented with a certificate of participation in the UN International Day of Peace 2014 celebrations in Sri Lanka, and the vote of thanks was delivered by the head prefect of the school, Miss. Chaturika.
Other guests of honor included Mr. G. Kumaradasa, principal of the Panwilathenna Central School, and Mr. Gayan Kahawala,National, youth coordinator of UPF-Sri Lanka.
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