Activities of SAPRI and FDJ
Transcript of Activities of SAPRI and FDJ
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SAPRI BULLETIN September 2014
Activities of SAPRI and FDJ
South Asia Policy and Research Institute
South Asia Policy and Research Institute [SAPRI] is a project of the CBK Foundation for Democracy and
Justice – FDJ which is a UK, registered charity.
SAPRI is a not for profit, non-partisan ‘Think Tank’ whose focus is the study of issues relating to Economic
Development, Poverty Alleviation, Woman Empowerment, Good Governance, Inclusive Development,
Conflict Resolution through mutual understanding, Social Cohesion and building Shared Societies in South
Asia.
South Asia one of the world’s most populous regions remains poor, divided and conflict ridden. Trade,
cultural and human exchanges within the region are low. South Asian intellectual discourse is sporadic and
limited in scope. South Asian policy appears to lack reform dynamism. There appears to be a lack on the part
of governments to reform inherited colonial systems to attain modernization.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA
SAPRI Inaugural Conference in New Delhi on ‘Inclusive Development’
April 2012
A two day conference on the theme ‘Delivering Inclusive and
Sustainable Development’ was held on the 9th and 10th of April. The
event was organized by SAPRI in partnership with the Centre for Policy
Research in New Delhi, and the Club de Madrid.
Twenty three academics from the region and beyond made
presentations at the symposium at New Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel. Among
them were four -former Presidents HE Andrés Pastrana Arango -
Colombia, HE President Cassam Uteem-Mauritius and HE Luis Alberto
Lacalle – Uruguay. The former Sri Lankan President HE Chandrika
Kumaratunga delivered the inaugural address.
The objective of the Conference was to address the challenges of
ensuring equitable development for all Peoples living within a country,
through inclusive growth.
The colloquium addressed subjects such as;
· Recent Global Economic Developments – Impact on South Asia
· Sustainable Development, Identity and Inclusion
Drs. Zoya Hassan, Kamal Hossain, Rajesh
Venugopal & P. Saravanamuttu
Mme Kumaratunga makes the keynote ad-
dress
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA CONT...
· Horizontal Inequalities and Conflict
· Education and Health Services for All
· Identity and Exclusion
· The State and Inclusivity
· Education-Key to Promote Respect for Diversity
Colloquium on “Challenges to Pluralism in South Asia”
January 2014
A colloquium on “Challenges to Pluralism in South Asia” was conducted by SAPRI in January 2014 with the
participation of eminent scholars from South Asia and beyond, at the BMICH in Colombo. The Club de
Madrid collaborated with SAPRI in this event.
The Colloquium was an activity coming under SAPRI’s project on Building Religious Harmony and an
Inclusive Society, and was held with the objective of raising awareness of the importance of respecting
diverse religions, in order to create a truly inclusive society.
At the colloquium the four member panel of scholars of international addressed the issues of religious
tolerance, peaceful coexistence, secularism and pluralism in South Asia.
The sessions were moderated by Dr. Deepika Udagama and Prof. Savithri Goonesekere renowned academics
from Sri Lanka. ‘
The sessions focused on the sub-themes ‘Religion & Politics in South Asia’ and ‘Secularism on Trial in
South Asia’. Two speakers in each session articulated their views initially on an individual basis and then
entered into a dialogue between them, before an interaction with the audience.
The Colloquium ended with concluding remarks from the Club de Madrid’s Advisor on Shared Societies, Dr.
Clem McCartney, who summed up the outcome of the event and focused on the way forward.
The local media gave the event extensive coverage, the transcripts of all presentations are in SAPRI’s latest
publication viz ALOKA volume 3
Panelists from left to right: Prof. Savithri Goonesekere (Moderator), Dr. Christophe Jaffrelot (France) Prof. Rajeev
Bhargava (India), Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka), Dr. Deepika Udagama
(Moderator), Dr. Clem McCartney (CdeM)
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA CONT
A Seminar on Social Business ‘Be the Change’
Keynote Speaker, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad
Yunus.
Colombo, December 2011.
‘Be the Change’ was the theme of the first seminar organized by
SAPRI in Colombo on 9th December 2011. The keynote speech was made by the world renowned economist
and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus spoke about his new concept which is
gathering momentum around the world viz ‘Social Business’.
The well attended event at Colombo’s Galle Face Hotel focused on ‘The role of the corporate sector and non-
governmental agencies in poverty alleviation’
The Chairperson of the SAPRI, Mme Chandrika Kumaratunga in her opening remarks said “the Vision of
SAPRI is to gather together thinkers from South Asia and elsewhere to study the major challenges our
region faces today, make policy recommendations, promote dialogue about these among policy makers from
the public and private sectors, as well as leaders of non-governmental organizations and academics”
“It has been affirmed that Poverty, Injustice and their relationship to conflict may be measured by the
difference in opportunity structures for the excluded groups” Ms Kumaratunga said the private sector must
contribute to the task of poverty alleviation. The private sector she said can and should assist the State
sector by addressing poverty via their CSR programmes.
The seminar was chaired by senior Indian economist Dr Shankar Acharya a member of the Board of
Directors of SAPRI and Honorary Professor at the ICRIER.
Roundtable Discussion “Inclusive
Development & Growth”
This event was held at the Kadirgamar Institute at 24 Horton
Place, Colombo on August 1st 2012 and was well attended by
a distinguished audience of invitees comprising
parliamentarians, the media, scholars, senior public servants,
diplomats and business leaders. Left to right; Dr. Coomaraswamy, Lord Desai - Dr.Hossain, Dr
Acharya
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA CONT
The principal speakers and moderator were all members of the Board of Directors of SAPRI
· Lord Meghnad Desai - former Director of Studies at the London School of Economics & Labour Party
member of the House of Lords.
· Dr. Shankar Acharya – former Chief Economic Adviser to the Indian Govt. till 2003 &
Honorary Professor of ICRIER.
· Dr. Kamal Hossain - Former Minister of Law and of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh & co-author of the
Constitution of Bangladesh.
· Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy – Former Head of the Economics Unit of the Commonwealth
Secretariat.
Development Prospects for middle-income Sri Lanka:
Opportunities and Challenges’
A lecture by Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy on the theme ‘Development Prospects for
middle-income Sri Lanka: Opportunities and Challenges’ and held at the BMICH,
Colombo in July 2013 was attended by Members of Parliament, eminent economists,
academics and civil society members.
'The Many Faces of the Kandyan Kingdom: Cosmopolitanism &
Diversity; 1591-1765, Lessons for Today’
Prof Gananath Obeyasekera on 'The Many Faces of the Kandyan Kingdom:
Cosmopolitanism & Diversity; 1591-1765, Lessons for Today’ was held on 23rd April
2014. He is Professor (Emeritus) in Anthropology at Princeton University and is Sri
Lanka's most eminent anthropologist.
What next after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015
CEPA the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Analysis in collaboration with SAPRI and the
Club de Madrid held a symposium in Nov 2013. It was attended by scholars, intellectuals
and researchers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UK.
Two former Presidents – Chandrika Kumaratunga and Cassam Uteem of Mauritius
gathered for two days of intense discussions on the issue: “What next after the UN-backed
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era ends in 2015
The two day event focused on inclusive development and called for the eradication of
extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender
equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality rates; improving maternal health; combating
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA CONT
HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global
partnership for development.
Project on Women and Politics in Sri Lanka: Challenges to
Meaningful Participation
Focusing on the necessity to empower women politically, SAPRI is collaborating
with International Alert on a project on Women and Politics in Sri Lanka:
Challenges to Meaningful Participation. Workshops were held with political
leaders at the Parliamentary, Provincial Council and Local Govt. levels and civil society members’
participating.
Discourse on Restoring Religious Harmony in Sri Lanka:
Religious Harmony Project
The recent incidents of religious intolerance and violence perpetrated on minority religious communities
motivated SAPRI to begin a study to restore religious harmony by setting up a Forum for Inter-faith
Dialogue FIFAD, to discuss the reasons that caused religious intolerance and propose remedial measures.
The dialogue progressed for a six month period and produced recommendations for religious harmony.
The FIFAD comprises religious leaders, private sector professionals and civil society leaders from all
religions in Sri Lanka. FIFAD produced a series of recommendations to restore religious harmony.
Religious leaders of all faiths on stage: Moulavi M.R. Maheer, Vidyanithi Brahmasri S.Kuhananda Sharma
Swamy, Most Ven. Pannila Ananda Nayaka Thero Mahanayake Attanagalle Rajamaha Viharaya, Most Ven.
Hureekaduwe Pawarasiri Nayake Thero, Most Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayake Thero Amarapura
Chapter, Most Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Anunayake Thero Malwatte Chapter, His Grace Dr.Oswald Gomis,
Archbishop Emeritus, Moulavi Mohamed Aslaam Ansareen, Rev. Father Adrian Aron.
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA CONT
As a follow-up, an advocacy process led by Chair/SAPRI, former President Kumaratunga has met with
political party leaders and professional groups to discuss and advocate SAPRI’s recommendations for
religious harmony. The next step is to take this message to the grassroots through an awareness creating
district/divisional programme
District workshops on Capacity Building towards Religious Harmony
The first District Workshop was held in Nittambuwa on 2nd August 2014 and was attended by local leaders
of the four major religions, doctors, lawyers, school principals and teachers.
The Venerable Madampagama Assaji Thero in his introduction explained the objectives of these district level
workshops around the country, and said it aims to create new groups
in every district to train professionals and young citizens on co-
existence and importance of the participation of all religious faiths,
rather than individual religious representation. All religions teach one
common thing - to maintain co-existence.
The chief resource person at the seminar was renowned sociologist
and a University Professor of Political Philosophy Dr. Jayantha
Seneviratne. He explained the meaning of violence, categories of
violence and the root causes of violence.
The participants were fully engrossed and were encouraged to contribute their own views by the resource
persons. Dr Seneviratne adopted the meta-analysis method to summarize and integrate results from a
number of individual ideas
The next such event was held in the town of Negombo on Saturday 13th September, with the same resource
persons
Study Group on Education A committee was established by SAPRI in early 2013, comprising an eminent group University Dons, senior
State education officials and school principals. The group was tasked with formulating a working Paper on
Education. The group will review the current issues and formulate recommendations to
improve the Education Sector.
An informal survey of Primary schools has been completed. The study group of eminent
educationists met on several occasions.
The Paper is now in the process of being developed and will be published in due course.
SAPRI’s recommendations for religious harmony were launched at a unique event on Reli-
gious Harmony held on 28 January 2014. At this event leaders of the four major religions
came together and spoke publicly, on the need for religious and ethnic harmony, and co-
existence.
Dr Jayantha Seneviratne
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Activities of the Foundation for Democracy & Justice
FDJ Projects
Solar Domestic Lighting Systems
4th September 2012
Mme Chandrika Kumaratunga made an impromptu inspection tour to the Jaffna Peninsula on Monday [3rd
September]. The Foundation for Justice and Democracy [FDJ] of which she is
Chairperson recently completed a pilot project in Nallur, Kopai and
Eluvantivu an islet in the West of Jaffna. One hundred families, who have
returned from IDP camps, were provided with solar PV lighting systems.
These systems were installed by competent technicians in consultation with
FDJ’s partners the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies [CHA]
The former Head of State went into the small tin-roofed homes of householders and chatted with them
freely. They welcomed her warmly with beaming eyes and said ‘Chandrika Amma we did not know you were
coming’ when asked about the benefits of the lighting provided they said their children were the main
beneficiaries. They are now able to study better with the lights
and had improved in their grades in school. The other benefits
mentioned were that they feel more secure after dark because of
the lights.
Most recipients Kumaratunga met were women whose husbands
had either died or disappeared during the war years. In a few
cases the men of the house were in custody and are permitted to
meet the families on certain days of the month, a few the
husbands were employed as
labourers. Most families were
comprised of mother and three
to five children.
Mme Kumaratunga says she was able to identify other needs of the
community in Kopai and Nallur during her inspection tour. Her Foundation
will make an assessment of the community’s immediate requirements such
as fresh water and attempt to provide them relief.
Smiles of satisfaction
Mme Kumaratunga with some resettled Jaffna resi-
dents
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Activities of the Foundation for Democracy & Justice
Provision of Domestic Water Through Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Embilipitiya Sabaragamuwa Province
The Project was launched in Ranchamadama, Embilipitiya a remote village situated in a dry zone
pocket in the South. Fifty seven [57] Rainwater harvesting tanks were provided in two phases. A needs survey done in the village in December 2009 indicated that the immediate need of the 600 families
in the area was water for drinking and cooking purposes.
The tank, when full can hold up to 6500 liters of water, which is sufficient to meet the needs of a family of 05
persons for a period of 04 / 05 months with no rain. The first phase of the project was completed with assistance from technical experts in December 2009.
Construction of a further twenty six [26] tanks was completed in June 2014
New employment opportunities
It was heartening to note that as a result of our water project several small cottage
industries have sprung up. Others pride themselves on of thriving vegetable plots around
their humble homes. One innovative farmer, 51 year old Edwin Omalpage bought himself a 1000 liter plastic
tank. Edwin has hitched the tank to his hand tractor and supplies water to the brick
makers and gardeners. He collects water from a tributary to the Chandrika Weva [river]
nearby and supplies the extra water they need. The engine of his tractor doubles up as a
pump to draw water from the stream and also to pump it up to conservation tanks, Edwin charges Rs 350/=
for each load of water and makes around five trips to the stream each day. D.Dharmananda's small clay brick industry has doubled its manufacturing capacity after he acquired a rain
water conservation unit. One year ago he was selling raw bricks to building material supplier. Now with
sales improving Dharmananda is building his own brick furnace, the sale of
baked bricks will earn him a much better rate he says. W Shirani Pathmalatha – is now a happy housewife her conservation tank keeps
her 'home garden' well irrigated, she grows winged beans, betel leaves, pepper
corns and raddish. Benefits for the economically disadvantaged families:
· Regular supply of clean water during dry seasons
· In an environmentally friendly manner
· Health benefits derived from elimination of high calcium content in water due to the filtration
system in Urns.
· Promotion of community organization and participation
· Transfer of technology to the poorest deciles of the village.
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Activities of the Foundation for Democracy & Justice
mutual respect living as individuals and
communities in a free and democratic
society. The trainees were persons
between the ages of 17-30 years who
have completed their secondary
education .One group of a maximum of
50 students will be given a 3 months
training.
This academy caters to the
personal and professional
development of Young Leaders. It
seeks to inculcate knowledge,
attitudes and skills required for
efficient management as leaders in
their respective fields, be it in the
public, private or NGO sectors, to
live in peace, harmony and with
THE ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Academy for Personal and Professional Development
2/10 Thalakotuwa
Gardens,
Colombo 05
Sri Lanka
Phone:
94 11 2515998, 94 11
2515998
Email:
S O U T H A S I A
P O L I C Y &
R E S E A R C H
I N S T I T U T E
www.thesapri.org