A visit made by an Indian group interested in products made out of Jak fruit available in Sri Lanka – 27.04.2012.

The above group which arrived in Sri Lanka visited the Savisthri Office on 27.04.2012 to have a look at the various products turned out of the Jak fruit. Savisthri is a group which works for the necessity of a human and environmental friendly alternate procedure. 

This is an opportunity which resulted as a consequence of a workshop on products turned out of the Jak fruit, held jointly by Savisthri and PHM (Public Health Movement), Sri Lanka.

 
Jak fruit which is available in plenty in Sri Lanka is a solution to the escalation of the cost of living and the deterioration in nutrition especially amongst the women and the children.

 

At the Savisthri Office at Rajagiriya 15 varieties of food items had been prepared out of Jak fruit and a discussion ensued thereafter with the participation of several individuals.

This meeting served as an opportunity to the participants to get themselves acquainted with the products turned out of the Jak fruit in States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bangalore in India which have become income generating activities.

Steps will be taken in the near future to have close relations with countries like India, Thailand, Bangalore and Maldives which are interested in Jak fruit products and make the community in Sri Lanka enthusiastic about these products.

Jak fruit products

 

Cutlet

Aggala

Aluwa

Muscat

 

Koththu 

 

Seenisambol

 

 

Jam

The Annual National Congress of the Savisthri Movement held on 29.03.2012 at the Plantation Labour Association, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.

The above congress of the Savisthri Movement was held with the participation of representatives of the Six Districts where Savisthri implements it’s programmes, members of the Management Committee and the staff of the Savisthri National Office. An Attorney – at – Law served as the Resource Person.

 The congress commenced it’s work at 1013 hrs. With a welcome address, the National Secretary of Savisthri read the minutes of the proceedings of the previous year which were adopted as correct.

The National Secretary submitted the report regarding the activities carried out by Savisthri during the period 01.04.2011 to March 2012. She explained that the aim of the Savisthri Movement had been the formation of a strong women’s force and to achieve alternative economic development through women’s leadership and the position of the four outcomes during the period under review. The Financial Report pertaining to the relevant period too had been adopted as in order.

The same office bears have been re-elected for the current year.

 A special lecture was deliverd by the Resources Person, the Attorney – at – Law regarding the much publicized recommendations of the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and the Reconciliation Commission) He further stressed that the Daruman Report mentioned of the violation of International Law. The Human Law which is International Law prohibits the assassination of those arrested. According to this law attention has to be paid to women’s rights and children’s / rights, in a war situation.

 Mention was made that the future plan of Savisthri :-

Would be the Conversion of the existing 58 Mini Societies info independant societies.

Investment of the assets of the Mini Societies amounting to Rs. 16 million.

Possession of necessary qualifications to become office bearers of Savisthri.

 This Annual Congress provided a great opportunity for the members to express their views for the battement of the work of the Savisthri Movement.

The meeting adjourned at 1352 hrs.

"For the wellbeing of the Nation" It is Time to Build the Nation with a Women’s Perspective.

Report of the media discussion held regarding the necessity of Women’s intervention in womens problems to mark the International Women’s Day.

The above media discussion was organized by the “Womens’ Action for Social Justice” (WASJ) and was held at the Nippon Hotel, Colombo , Sri Lanka on 15.03.2012 from 1400 hrs – 1600 hrs. Six audio visual and print media Institutions (VFM, BBC, MTV/SIRASA, Asia News, Daily News, Divaina and Dinamina) participated in this discussion.

 The objective of this media discussion was to apprise the Civil Society and those in authority to combat the existing social, economic and political process in the Country based on power force and violence and what was required was a procedure with a human approach in lieu, based on womenly qualities ie. love and kindness. 

Some of the questions addressed at the media discussion :-

• The necessity of a procedure to confirm the good governance in the Country and in it’s absence the existence of a series of problems.

• Cost of living, indebtedness and taxation placed on the masses should be prevented. As regards wastageand corruption which have become the order of the day, the masses have to bear the brunt of it. Suppression of those who speak regarding the existing situation in the Country.

• The new development process in the country was not for the general public. This had contributed to the deterioration of the production process. Grabbing of lands too was discussed.

• Women in the Country should not be treated as cheap labour, Although the women contribute immensely as foreign exchange earners no attention paid to their problems and grievances.

• The security of Women in the country and the Women’s position in the Country’s politics.

Those present discussed in detail that the present social, economic and political situation which pressurizes especially the women should be avoided.

At the conclusion, the media document formulated by the Womens Action for Social Justice was handed over to the media representatives.

 

The meeting adjourned at 1600 hrs. 

Procedure for the establishment of a peace bridge linking the North, the East and the South – Stage II

For the above purpose 20 persons representing the South (represented by 12) North – Jaffna represented by 03, East – Batticaloa represented by 03 and Vauvniya represented by 02 participated at the meeting held on 01.11.2011 at village Development foundation, Mannar Road Vauvniya commercing at 0930 a.m.

Miss Padma Pushpakanthi of the Savisthri Movement representing the South pointed out :-

That in view of the fact that women had been greatly inconvinced by the various problems that cropped up as a consequence of the long drawn war, time had come for women to take the lead in preserving peace in the country.

 This was an attempt made to collect the views, feelings and expectations of the women in the North and the South for the establishment of sustainable peace amongst various ethnicities.

She further emphasized that the aim of these women is to solve all the issues that arise socially, economically, politically with the intervention of women and contribute to the creation of a strong Womens’ Movement in the country.

 Most of the programmes implemented with the initiative taken by the males are of a violent nature. Experience shows that contrary to such notions women interfere with loving kindness in any activity and such activities are full of love and kindness. This fact should be accepted and action taken accordingly by both the men and their counterparts. It is such intervention that is required today and a strong Womens Movement has the ability to solve any issues that crop up in the country in the future.

Cookery Demonstration held using available food items in the preparation of delicious sweet meats and cordials.

A cockery demonstration organized by the Public Health Movement (PHM) was held at the Savisthri National Office Rajagiriya on 07.02.2012 commencing 0930 hrs. attended by the Savisthri staff the members of the PHM and the neighbours. The demonstrator made several delicious sweet meats out of flour prepared from Jak seeds which is available in abundance in most parts of Sri Lanka. Jak is a nutritious food which the Sri Lankans eat as a substitute for rice the staple food of our country.

 With the Jak seed flour using suger syrup and scraped coconut the demonstrator prepared a nice palatable sweet meat in the quickest possible time. Apart from this several other sweet-meats too were prepared using the Jak seed flour and Jak bulbs.

The cordial she made out of olives was very tasty and nourishing. The demonstration was well attended and ended up 1730 hrs.

 Another such cookery demonstration would be held at the Savisthri National Office on 13.03.2012.

National collective for the establishment of man - elephant co- existence

Protest Rally conducted by the National collective for the establishment of man-elephant co-existence.

Those affected in 15 Districts of Sri Lanka as a consequence of loss of life and property and destruction of crops due to the deterioration of man-elephant co-existence met the Hon. Minister of Environment and Wild Life S.A. Chandrasena and his Ministry Officials recently at his Ministry seeking solutions for the settlement of these grave issues.

The Hon. Minister who listened attentively to instances of havoc caused by the elephants gave a clarification regarding the decisions reached to be implemented in the year 2012 regarding this matter like the conservation of elephants who pose a severe threat to the villagers, erection of electric fences in areas where such fences are not available, regularization of the payment of compensation to the kith and kin of the victims etc. and that a sum of Rs. 10 billion has already been allocated by the 2012 budget for this purpose.

He further stressed that he would visit all the other affected Districts and have discussions with the villagers and the relevant officers to effect co-existence between man and elephant.

He gave an assurance that he would take measures to ensure that no land named as “Wild Life” is given to any individual or company.