Thursday, May 14, 2009

“Wesak” Mal Dansala - 2009 -Free Distribution of Flowers

“Wesak” day is a very important religious festival for all the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and all over the world. Every year we continuously conduct “Mal Dansala” (Free distribution of flowers for the worshipers). In this year it was held on 8th May 2009 in “Aluviharaya Rajamaha Temple” in the district of Matale. Every Poya day, Buddhist people of all over the country use to come to this ancient temple and do their spiritual activities.

Youth groups of our different fields were more generous to find out very beautiful lotus flowers to distribute among the people. We were happy to note that more than 7000 flowers were distributed on that day.

Rev. Fr. Desmond Perera - Coordinator of the Mtale district, members of Setik staff and volunteers of you youth groups participated at this programme and we are fortunate to have the media coverage of Sri Lanka Rupawahini Corporation and telecasted the programme on 9th May 2009.

May Day Celebration - 2009

International May Day celebration was organized by Setik, Kandy at Nuwara Eliya District on 1st May 2009. It is very important to note that this time, the methodology that we used to highlight the labour rights was a street drama. Advocacy and lobby is not easy within the present context. But we understood that we should use a different method to educate civil society and to make their voice for their rights.

The street drama was played, in several public places in Nuwara Eliya district. There were good crowd in Nuwara Eliya, Nanu Oya, Talawakelle and Hatton. The main message which was given to the people was the discrimination of their authorities and politicians who represent them and how they can over come by themselves.

In this occasion leaflets were distributed among the people and banners were exhibited in major towns of the Central Province to convey the message to the society.

The food back which we received form the audience on the spot was very important and they said this is a very practical way to express burning issues in this present context. Plantation workers expressed their ideas saying that this was an opportunity for them to understand matters pertaining to their labour hood.