SAARC celebrates women in arts
‘A celebration of the struggles, triumphs and legacies of women’ was the theme of the SAARC Cultural Centre celebrating this year’s 109th International Women’s Day on March 8 at the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
Sumitra Peries being felicitated. Pic by Amila Gamage
Special guests- film director Sumitra Peries, educationist Mercy Nalini Edussuriya, former principal of Visakha Vidyalaya, author Sumithra Rahubaddhe and representatives from the SAARC states of Maldives, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka were present.
Performances by the students from the Maldivian Educational and Cultural Centre along with the Visual and Performing Arts University’s own students were a highlight.
Sri Lanka’s first female filmmaker, Sumitra Peries stated, “All my films had a central character who was a female and I always discovered young women to act in my films. I have given opportunities to young people especially females to play meaningful roles in them.”
“Being a woman should not be a reason for the lack of confidence or feeling of self-worth,” said Mrs. Edussuriya, a former principal of Visakha Vidyalaya,addressing the gathering.
An award-winning novelist and retired Sri Lankan Administrative Service Officer Sumithra Rahubaddhe commented, “In a society where the male was always portrayed as righteous and the female was always weak, I did not use my pen to fight alone. I did it to fight together.”
The guest speakers were also presented with tokens of appreciation by Renuka Ekanayake, the Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre, in recognition of their work for women over the years.