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| Sunday, 11 July 2004 |
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Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, conferred 'Novartis' title: 'Grama Swarajya', Sarvodaya's new culture 'Sarvodaya' will not get involved in any partisan activity, but strive to build a new culture in the political and socio-economic spheres in the country, said Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, President of Sarvodaya Sramadana Movement. "Sarvodaya Movement stands solid today working with 15,000 villages in the country and, the villagers of at least 5,000 villages, are well aware of the deteriorating status of the country and its culture. Therefore, on November 6, ten selected representatives from 1,000 villages will pledge a new culture and concept of creating a 'Grama Swarajya' (sovereign villages)", he said. Dr. Ariyaratne was speaking on the occasion of being conferred with the 'Novartis Lifetime Achievement Award', by the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) in Switzerland. The Foundation bestowed this award on him recognising his contribution to the world's understanding of spiritual realities and total commitment to actualizing the relationships between personal, social, community, national and world awakening. Presenting the award to Dr. Ariyaratne, Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of NFSD, compared it to "taking owls to Athens," pointing out that he had been granted many awards from people all over the world. "The real lifetime award Dr. Ariyaratne receives is the results of his many years of work," he explained. "However, the award is to honour Dr. Ariyaratne as a charming human being, whose advice, courage and dedication is treasured by the Novartis Foundation", he said. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, remembered his association with Dr. Ariyaratne from the time he was a young politician. Dr. Ariyaratne's path was not easy, he pointed out. The brickbats he received were more than complements. However, believing that true development was in the hands of rural society, he plodded relentlessly, and gained an enviable track record of success worldwide for his unique brand of 'development from bottom up', he said. Dr. Ariyaratne and his 47 years of community development through Sarvodaya Sramadana Movement has been recognised worldwide with many awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership 1969, King Boudoun Award for International Development 1982, Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Propagating Ghandian Values Outside India 1990, Hubert H. Humphrey Award, USA and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize, 1996. |
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