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| Sunday, 02 March 2003 |
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Sarvodaya meets Norwegian government reps The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement met a delegation from the Norwegian Government last week to discuss the development of the country and the ongoing peace process,and the various development initiatives that Sarvodaya and its economic development arm Sarvodaya Enterprise Economic Development Services (SEEDS) are undertaking through out country and how Norway could support those initiatives in the future. The Norwegian delegation included the country's Deputy Minister of Development Co-operation Olav Kjorven, and representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Organisation for Development Co-operation (NORAD). Sarvodaya Founder and President, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne attended the meeting along with a number of Sarvodaya and SEEDS representatives. Dr. Ariyaratne said that peace is crucial if Sri Lanka's poorest people are to emerge from poverty. "Through its support for both peace and development initiatives, Norway has made a great contribution in improving the lives of people throughout the island", he said. "Civil society has a critical role to play in Sri Lanka's path to peace. As the largest grass roots organisation in the country, Sarvodaya is committed to supporting peace, building greater understanding between communities and empowering the island's poorest people to improve their lives." Norway, which is mediating the current peace negotiations between the Government and the LTTE has for a long time been an important resource partner of both Sarvodaya and SEEDS. It has supported SEEDS economic development programmes in Hambantota, Moneragala and Nuwara Eliya among the poorest districts in which SEEDS operates. Already the largest microfinance organisation in the country, SEEDS last year expanded into the North and East with the opening of a district office in Batticaloa, Sarvodaya is Sri Lanka's longest-running and largest pro-poor organisation involving more than one million people spread through all corners of the island. During the two decade armed conflict Sarvodaya undertook a range of peace initiatives, including a peace march and meditation program that last year drew 650,000 people. |
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