Female inmates get vocational training

The female inmates of the Welikada prison too will be transferred to the Kalutara prison in the near future on a directive made by the government but it is in a neglected stage compared to Welikada. The Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organisation(SUNFO) has decided to conduct vocational training courses to keep them occupied and to increase their income once they leave the prison. SUNFO, a non political, non racial and non sectarian organisation that seeks to unite all people into a movement working for the well being, harmony and peace of mankind according to the principles of the United Nations.

Dr. Wijetunge addresses prison inmates

As the initial stage SUNFO conducted a program to commemorate International Women's Day which included items performed by the SUNFO Drama team as well as the inmates. Ven. Ahungalle Dammasara Thera said that they are not there because of their mistakes but because of the mistakes of the outside world. "Therefore don't repent as even according to the Buddha's teachings the greatest wisdom is understanding it and not committing that sin again. Condition the mind and be good citizens once you leave the prison."

Rev. Father Dickson said that this is the time to rest and think so that once you leave the prison you will be more creative. He said that even Mahathma Gandhi used the time he was in prison to rest and think which made him do so many things after he left the prison.

Director General SUNFO Dr Deshapriya Wijetunge said the reason for them to select the Kalutara prison was its neglected state compared to the Welikada Prison. He said that a government alone cannot do all the welfare work and therefore it was the responsibility of us as fellow citizens to help in every possible way. Most people help the Welikada Prison but not Kalutara. Therefore SUNFO decided to support the inmates of Kalutara in every possible way.

He said that even the relatives find it difficult to visit the inmates due to the lack of transport facilities. He said that at present only one bus plies on that route and it is also difficult to walk the long distance from the main road.

National Sales Manager Oriflame Lanka Virginia Corera who works as an active member at SUNFO spoke on the importance of women. She said that when God created the woman he thought of everything.

"The woman must be capable of doing many things but she is not a machine and she must be able to cook all kinds of food, She must also be able to embrace several children at the same time, give a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart and she must do all this with only two hands". Woman has strengths that amaze man. She can handle troublesome situations and carry heavy burdens. She exudes happiness, love and hold opinions. She smiles when she gets the feeling to scream. She sings when she feels like crying, cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid. She fights for what she believes in and stand up against injustice. She doesn't take "no" for an answer, When she finds a better solution, she will ready reveal it so that her family can thrive. She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid.

SG