Page 1 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 9 th and 10 th 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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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
Page 2
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
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