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Anniversary of the Mini Bank Society of Anduwatta

The fourth meeting of the Mini Bank Society of Telwatta, Anduwatta in the Galle District which was completely devastated by the tsunami catastrophe, was held on 23.07.2006. This photo shows the women taking an oath to rise against the adverse effects of the tsunami disaster.

The second conference of SAAPE (South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication) was held in the Shanker Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2006 on the theme "Struggle for Grassroots Democracy South Asian Perspective."
Representatives from the South Asian countries as well as those from Afganistan, Kashmir and some European Countries too participated.

13 representatives from Sri Lanka representing Women's,Farming, Fishing, plantation fields Labour and Human Rights sectors under the leadership of MONLAR (Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reforms) which acts as the co-ordinator of SAAPE in Sri Lanka participated at this conference.

Photo shows the group that participated from Sri Lanka.
1st row from left :-Fr.Benil,(Plantation Social Forum),Mr.Wejasinghe(Monlar),Mr.Prabath Kumara,Ms.Megalla(Home for Human Rights),Mr.Sarth Fenando(Monlar),Mr. Enbernayagam(Jaffna).
2nd row from left:-Mr. Shamila Indika (Monlar),Miss. Prarthana(Savisthri),Mr.Lalith Abesinghe(Sathyodaya),Mr.Samith Roshan(Nafso),Mr. Saranapala,Ms. Kalyani Attanayaka (Womens Development Center),Ms.Sugala Kumari (People's Planning Commision).

Discussion with Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
"Women's Action for Social Justice" organized a discussion with His Excellency, President of Sri Lanka and members of Parliament on the "Women's Declaration for the Betterment of the country". Accordingly the first discussion was held on 2006.06.13 with the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mr. Felix Perera at 3.00 p.m. at the Fisheries Ministry.

The following decisions were taken at the meeting with the Fisheries Minister :-
1. Inauguration at regional level purchasing of fish from the fishermen and marketing of same with the interference of the Ministry of Fisheries.
2. Formulation of a method of distribution of fish to the central parts of the country and provision of transport facilities for same.
3.Immediate stoppage of the importation of dried fish and tinned fish and the opening up of a tinned fish factory in the island in the course of this year to raise the local fish production.
4. If meetings of the fisheries sector are organized at regional level, the assurance that the Minister's participation and assistance would be given.

The under – mentioned participated at this meeting held with the Minister :-
Padma Pushpakanthi (Convener of the Network), Mary Princy (Janawabodaya Center), Geetha Lakmini (National Fisheries Solidarity), Roshini Gangani (District Co-ordinator of Savisthri, Galle) Lalani Kalupahana (Savisthri member, Galle) and Shanthi Amarasekara.

Savisthri Publications

With the intention of excerting impacts on the government as well as the RADA (Rehabilitation And Development Agency )requesting that the problem of the Tsunami victims living in camps be solved, a banner with the slogan

" DO JUSTICE IMMEDIATELY TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF SRI LANKA AFFECTED BY THE TSUNAMI CATASTROPH AND THOSE LEADING MISERABLE LIVES IN THA PLANTATION SECTOR."

Containing Signatures of several individuals prepared on a suggestion made by the Farming , Fisheries, and Plantation sectors who participated at the Women' s Congress of the "Savisthri" Organization held at the Radella sports ground, Nuwaraeliya was hand-over to the RADA at 1300 hours on 15.05.2006 by a team of Savisthri members handed by the National Secretary M/s. Padma Pushpakanthi followed by a discussion with the RADA representative. Based on this discussion and to apprise the Media regarding the present situation of the Tsunami victims ,a press conference was held with the media From1500hours to 1600 hours on the same day at the Nippon Hotel ,Colombo.

The photo shows the representatives of the activists of the Savisthri Women's Network. From the left; Ms.Lalani kalupahana(Galle District), Chamila Nanayackara(Tsunami Program Cordinator GalleDistrict) ,P.M .Dilruckshi( Taunami Programe Cordinator Matara District ) , Padma Pushpakanthi (National coordinator of Savisthri),K.W.Padmini(Galle District) and R.A .Pathmalatha (Matara District)

With the intention of excreting impacts on the government as well as the RADA (Rehabilitation And Development Agency )requesting that the problem of the Tsunami victims living in camps be solved, a banner with the slogan,

Savisthri associated youth group from Nuwaraeliya perform a traditional dance from the Hindu culture. .

This photo shows Mr. Sarath Fernando the Joint secretary of MONLAR "Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reforms" which movement has closely been associated with the Savisthri Organization explaining the activities of Savisthri, the problems of the plantation sector and the adverse effects of the various development plans implemented by the government. On the right is Mr. Francis who translated it into the Tamil language.

This picture shows a model of a farmer's house and a home garden prepared by the Savisthri members of the Matale District which was kept at the exhibition. For this model, palmyrah leaves, coconut ekels, bamboo and earth had been used.

The alternate products exhibition and the sale was held under the second stage of the National Women's Congress. Here various items produced in the six Districts where Savisthri programmes are implemental were displayed at the exhibition and the photo shows some such items.This shows the Savisthri members from the Moneragala and Matale Districts selling the items kept at the trade stalls and the various trade stalls put up by the groups.

An Active Member of Savisthri

M/s Sandalatha lives in the Yatawatta Divisional Secretary's Division in Matale. She is a very active member of the Savisthri organization and possesses a good knowledge of home gardening using organic fertilizer. She gives her knowledge in this regard to the Savisthri members in the Matale district. This photo shows M/s Sandhalatha , as a representative of the farming community explaining her experiences to those gathered at the National Women's Congress.

Asian Social Forum -March 23rd-29th in Karachi

Eight Savisthri Staff members participated to the Asian Social Forum in Karachi in March 2006. The team contained four Grass-root level representatives and four District Cordinators. The representatives presented key issues of Savisthri's current programme, such as ensuring the rights of Tsunami survivors and adverse effects of Globalization.

In this photograp we see Sri lankan representatives demonstrating along with other Asian women reprentatives on common issues in particular adverse impacts on women.

Savisthri Annual Women Congress -2006

"SAVISTHRI" Organization (Women for Development Alternatives) is scheduled to hold it's annual women's congress during the month of March 2006 to concide with the International Women's Day which falls on March 08th 2006. SAVISTHRI is implementing it's projects in the Districts of Galle, Matara, Monaragala, Matale, Anuradhapura and NuwaraEliya covering the farming, fisheries, plantation sectors and Labour field and approximately 1000 SAVISTHRI members in these Districts will organize and hold this congress where they will be able to raise awareness amongst themselves about the activities of the SAVISTHRI Organization, to display their skills and talents exchange their experiences, establish relationships and acquire strength too economically.

This year SAVISTHRI Women's Congress will be held on 12.03.2006 in the Radalla Sports grounds in the NUwaraEliya District under the theme, "Let us camp for the Development of Co-existence and sustainable peace." It is also planned to hold an exhibition with alternate economic products of the Six Districts.

Our endeavour is to highlight through the congress the indifference meted out to each individual within the social, economic, political and cultural strata in Sri Lanka.

It is also planned to discuss at this congress the present war situation in the North- Eastern parts of the country increase in violence restlessness amongst the youth especially in the plantation areas which would create an atmosphere to incite them to violence. The main objective of the congress is to instill an awareness amongst the masses in the South of the various problems encountered by the plantation workers, forget all the disputes and differences prevailing amongst the masses and live peacefully along with the environment and all the community. Our firm expectation is to instill amongst the women in the farming, fisher folk, plantation sectors and others the importance of uniting together irrespective of various, differences to form a strong Women's Force. Mention must be made that the co-orperation of the Organizations "Women's Network for Social Justice" and "Mother's Movement for Combatting Malnutrition", various co-ordinating organizations, voluntary workers, with us is a matter of significance.

New Year Greeting

All that is good is for the future
The future is for them, for the children
We have prayed hundreds of thousands of times
that the future be theirs
But in this universe there are a few who aspire to grab
the whole world with the intention of making their profits
doubled and trebled
This special prayer is for those
who are in a struggle to protect the universe for
the future generation.
May the New year 2006
herald the dawn of a new era which will
produce men with Courage,
Strength and Enthusiasm.

We the members of the Savisthri organization
wish you / Your organization
A very Happy and a Prosperous New Year !

We the member of the SAVISTHRI OROGANIZATION
wish you /Your oroganization,

A very Happy and a Prosperous New Year!

Savisthri Demands Action

Picture shows the convenor of the " Women's Action for Social Justice" net work M/S. Padma Pushpakanthi handing over the document. Declaration of the women for the betterment of, the Nation. formulated by the Women's Action for Social Justice to the Hon. Prime Minister on 21.09.2005 at. Temple Trees, his official residence.

Savistri has survived

Savistri has survived largely on voluntarism and the commitment of its district and head office staff. However we cannot continue like this as there is considerable pressure on staff to leave for jobs that pay a more just wage. After a review with Mrs Divani Fonseka, our Chair person, we want to institute a salary revising bringing us more in line with local and national rates. The attached bridge grant budget recommends an immediate increase of about 20% to all staff. This however still leaves us below other comparable agencies such as SEDEC and MONLAR. Further increases will be recommended in the new full 3 year plan.