Solidarity in serving needy women

Sri Lanka Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit project :

International Women's Day (March 8) was marked by the Women's Sri Lanka Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU) which was established on June 30 1984, with the aim of assisting the development process and also to ensure the improvement of quality of life of women in Sri Lanka, commemorate.

International Women's Day with an objective of gathering, honouring and extending a hand of friendship to women of all walks of life.

This magnificent event was held on March 12 at Bishop's College Auditorium and held by women for women, and was declared opened by the First Lady, Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Mrs. Kusum Wickramanayaka was the guest of honour.

Wife of Secretary of Defence, Mrs. Ayoma Rajapaksa, Wife of Chief of Defence Staff, Dr. (Mrs.) Ranjani Perera, wife of the Army Commander, Mrs. Anoma Fonseka, wife of the Navy Commander, Mrs. Asoka Karannagoda, the wife of IGP, Mrs. Ramya Perera, The Ladies of Ambassadors, Former Chairpersons of SLAF SVU and former IGP's wife Mrs. Nandani Fernando, and the Ladies of the diplomatic community were among the distinguished guests.

The event was organised to assure the participation of wives of services men and service women of the Sri Lanka Air Force and all segments of women from the highest level to the lowest level, such as representatives from their other military forces, police, government sector and private sector, other women organisations, women achievers, eminent women of Sri Lanka, female foreign delegates and the wives of foreign delegates, aged women, girl children, war affected women, women affected by natural disasters, abused and harassed women, differently abled women and women labour force such as estate workers, factory workers and sanitary cleaners.

The event was structured in a manner to give edification to the participants by including lecture presentation by Mrs. Sumithra Fernando, an Executive Director of Women in Need on this year's International Women's Day theme 'Ending impunity for violence against women', and including a professional make up demonstration by Mrs. Janet Balasuriya of Janet Skin and Hair Salons.

The audience was deeply touched by the excellent orchestra of the girl children of Deaf and Blind school, Ratmalana. Mariezelle Goonetileke brightened the event with her gifted voice. A fashion show modelled by the ladies of the Air Force and choreographed by Mrs. Chula Nanayakkara, added more glamour to the event.

The event was also coloured with dance performances of the Sri Lanka Air Force band and their dancing troupe.

Donations and gifts worth more than Rupees 2.5 million were donated including 12 sewing machines for wives of personnel killed-in-action a wife of a deceased civilian, distribution of 10 distress loans (interest free) for serving women, donation of cash for self employment to a wife of a differently abled airman, distribution of gifts to 10 mothers to be, distribution of 10 wheel chairs for the aged, differently abled and battered women in the society, felicitating female minor workers in the society with a monetary donation and a gift, distribution of grants for 10 SLAF servicemen affected by landslides, distribution of 10 scholarships from the Marian Goonetileke Scholarship Fund for children of Air Force Personnel and gifts to the girl children of School of Deaf, Ratmalana.

The First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa was felicitated by the Chairperson of SLAF SVU in appreciation of her services rendered to support the Sri Lankan women to build up equality for all, irrespective of race, religion, cast, language and differences in political views, through Siriliya Saviya and services rendered or the displaced, low income women, for looking into matters connected to the schooling of children in border villages and for the running of Carlton Schools as well as for her simplicity, and participation.

(LW)