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OCTOBER 2011 MIHISARA .

Congress held on the Poverty Day - Sri Lanka


The above congress was held by the network "Women's Action for Social Justice" convened by the Savisthri Organization on 17th October 2007 at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka from 1000 hrs. to 1430 hrs. on the theme "Who Created Poverty" How to eradicate poverty".

Approximately 450 representatives of Organizations in the Districts/Regions, viz. Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Negambo, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Matale, NuwaraEliya, Galigamuwa, Mawanella and Mahiyanganaya participated.


Members both Males and females of the Savisthri National Youth Group of Galle and Matara staged a drama depicting the view that poverty was created and that it could be eradicated.

The convenor Women's Action for Social Justice Miss. Padma Pushpakanthi stated that Various development programmes have been implemented to reduce poverty in the country. A similar new concept to be implemented in the future is the Millenium Development Goals(MDG). Although they seem to be good as concepts, there is a problems regarding the development avenues that are to be implemented to achieve the goals. Experience shows that similar programmes so far implemented to achieve that end has contributed to the increase in poverty. The benefits of such programmes are being reaped by the world powers including a few in the country. Adverse impacts are being directed at the poverty stricken majority consisting of farmers, fisher- folk, plantation workers, migrant workers including women. Hence it is intended to exert impacts on those responsible through a petition expressing our view that in lieu of these a favourble programme for the sustainability of the customary age old livelihoods for the sustenance of the earth could be implemented and hold a congress to create an awareness amongst the masses regarding it.

Several speakers representing the farming, fishing and plantation sectors and migrant workers, explained the various problems encountered by them.

A drama was staged by the Peoples' Cultural group depicting the way poverty was created, how people get subjected to poverty, how the people become dependant and how the powers that be reap the benefits.

A clarification was made regarding the problems that arose with the introduction and implementation of open economic policies in the country after 1977 and how it exerted impacts on the various production sectors in the country as well as the environment Emphasis was laid on all the citizens of the country that it was their responsibility to develop the revival strength of the earth. It is only then that the strength which was amongst the masses in the ancient times could be re-established. This ability lies with the women. The women have the strength to get the whole society involved in this activity.

A public petition on the theme "Let us eradicate poverty and not the poor" was presented to the congress. All the participants placed their signatures to the petition and accordingly there were 485 signatures.