Sri Lanka Federation of University Women turns 75:

A fillip for women's education and uplift

The Diamond Jubilee of the Sri Lanka Federation of University Women (SLFUW) falls this year and to celebrate the event a symposium on the title "The Role of Women in Good Governance, Social Justice and Democracy" will be held with the President Maithripala Sirisena in attendance at the BMICH - Committee Room B on September 14.

Way back in 1941, in the midst of World War II, when a handful of inspired women met in a sitting room in Colombo and formed the Ceylon Federation of University Women (later termed as Sri Lanka Federation of University Women), they may not have imagined that the ideals they thus formed will last for so long. This year, 75 years later, the legacy continues.

What was rather strange about the birth of this organization was that these members who spelt out the objectives towards the welfare of University women had graduated from foreign Universities and had made Sri Lanka their home. In fact, Ceylon did not even have a university at that time. Clara Motwani, the founder member - an American by birth with BA and MA degrees from American Universities had arrived with her husband - an Indian theosophist and made Sri Lanka her home.

The rest, Doreen Wickremasinghe, Hilda Kularatne and MajorieWestrop arrived here from Britain while Susan Pulimood arrived from India. The only local founder member was Grace Paul from Jaffna who was also the first Sri Lankan to become the President of the Federation from 1944-'46 and 1958-'59.

It was in 1942 that the University of Ceylon was established amalgamating the University College and the Medical College which were up to then affiliated to the University of London. In 1942, out of the 904 students at the University of Ceylon, 91 were women which was 10.1%. Thereafter, the percentage of the women student population gradually grew till it reached 44.4% in 1970. In 1950, nearly 80% of students of both sexes were from urban, affluent families. This ratio changed later as students from the rural sector became dominant following the Government takeover of schools and change of medium if instruction to Sinhala and Tamil.

By early sixties, the membership of the Federation rose to over 600. In the early days, women passing out from the Universities had been largely teachers and educationists due to the lesser numbers of establishments in the private sector and as the most noble and respectable career for women was considered as the teaching profession. The Federation accordingly expressed views on national matters and they were in turn consulted on policy matters by the then Governments. Federation Members even sat on bodies such as the University Court.

In 1944, the Federation, considered a vital pressure group by then, submitted views and recommendations to the Kannangara Commission on Education. By the end of the first decade, the SLFUW had grown to be able to influence national problems especially in the field of education.

Today, amidst turbulent times, the SLFUW had expanded counting around 5000 members some of whom the SLFUW lament are not sufficiently active. The President Mrs. Seela Ebert points out that unlike in its early stages, its services to University women are not confined to education as they represent the Medical, Law, Science, Humanities, Administration, Accountancy and many more fields. The SLFUW with its Branches in Kandy and Jaffna continues to extend its services. Ebert says that the SLFUW will open more branches and make the members more active.

The SLFUW has its own Resource and Training Centre at its Kithulwatte Road premises in Colombo which is now a popular venue for vibrant discussions. The SLFUW also holds lectures and workshops on issues which are timely and relevant to University women. Its Hostel for University Undergraduates at a nominal rent is part of its service projects. The SLFUW which is active in many more fields thus continues a legacy begun 75 years ago by a band of far-thinking women.