A "Way to Change" opens

A "Way to Change" Training Course which adds a new dimension to political history of Sri Lanka was ceremonially launched on 19 March.

• This training course sponsored by PAFFREL will be conducted continuously for a period of one year. It has been designed targeting women who are interested in politics and are currently engaged in active politics at the local level.  Nearly 500 applications have been received and only 100   selected to follow it.

On this occasion, the PAFFREL and the women delegates entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The course aims at raising their awareness on theoretical and practical aspects of politics, such as personality development, designing and planning publicity campaigns, dealing with the media and negotiating with social media. PAFFREL aims at taking them beyond local politics and enabling them to reach Parliament.

At the inaugural event held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, the participants pledged to join the training course and contribute to social progress and dedicate themselves to create a superior political culture

The Politicians including religious leaders, who have participated in the inaugural event, spoke about the benefits the society will gain from the involvement of women in active politics. They praised PAFFREL profusely for the historic step it has taken in this respect.

The inaugural  ceremony of the   “Way to Change" training  course was attended by Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Speaker of Parliament, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, former President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister  Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Tissa Attanayake, MP, Vijitha Herath, MP, M.A.Sumanthiran, MP, Rasamanikkam Shanakyan, MP, Palitha Range Bandara, General Secretary UNP, Mahinda Deshapriya, the current Chairman of the Delimitation Commission and former Chairman of the Elections Commission and Saman Sri Ratnayake, Director General of the Elections Commission. Ferial Ashraf, former Minister, Dhamma Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer, Attorney-at-Law Gayani Premathilaka, Legal Officer, Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Manjula Gajanayake, Former National Coordinator of the Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) were present on behalf of the Course Advisory Committee.