Uniting thoughts vibes and action, the Global Convention is a culmination of 75 years of rebuilding human lives and communities in Sri Lanka. To be held on December 19 and 20, 2010 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall, it would bring together a multi-cultural ensemble of corporate representatives driven towards social responsibility. The organisation, Sree Narayana Guru Society, based on the philosophical foundation of one caste, one religion, one goal, commemorates the Platinum Jubilee year of the Sree Narayana Guru Memorial Malayalee Hall established in an effort to create a greater impact to the society that it operates in.
While the establishment is driven towards a sustainable community development through its eco-friendly projects, it also facilitates other activities that are diverse and far reaching. M K Rahulan, Director, Presidential Communication/Former Director of Legislator Services in Parliament & Chief Parliament Interpreter, is the President of Sri Narayana Guru Society of Sri Lanka.
"It promotes cultural exchanges and information trade between India and Sri Lanka and we hope to link with the High Commission of India as well to further strengthen these efforts," says T S Prakash, General Manager, Revlon Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Global Convention Organising Secretary. Providing scholarships for local students for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in India are programmes that are already underway through the Organisation. With functions that transcend the confines of caste and religion it also serves to bridge multicultural gaps. In this respect the Organisation hopes to introduce the Sinhala language in India and conversely the Hindi and Sanskrit languages in Sri Lanka.
Not only does the Society draw representatives of the corporate community, it is an inclusive one that opens its doors to any individual for its worthy causes - the only pre-requisite being 'to be human'. The basis of its functions can be witnessed and experienced at the Global Convention with interactive sessions and activities held over the period of two days.
Eminent thinkers and philosophers of diverse backgrounds will address the Convention covering a broad range of thought provoking topics. They include, Prof Ashis Nandy, Fellow, CSDS, New Delhi, Ambassador T P Srinivasan, Director-General, Kerala International Centre, Dr. C V Ananda Bose, Administrator, Department of Culture, Government of India, Prof. Vinay Lal, University of California, Los Angeles, Prof. B. Rajeevan, author and thinker and Mr. Viswa Sadasivand Member of Parliament, Singapore and Prof Roby Rajan, University of Wisconsin will pilot the various sessions.
Philosophical sessions will be conducted on the first day of the Convention and the second day is earmarked for a workshop to arrive at an action plan to take forward the objectives of the convention in concrete areas of socio-economic development of Sri Lanka, including Development, Education and Healthcare, Deployment of Technology and Conservation of Environment and Cultural Initiatives. Highlighting the Society's goal of 'invoking thought and provoking action', the action plans of the different groups will be debated in the plenary and approved for follow up action after the Convention.
This Convention arrives as a corollary to the highly successful World Parliament of Religions held in New Delhi, in the year 2007. Sri Lanka was aptly chosen to host this Global Convention, as it also commemorates Sree Naranaya Guru's visit to the Island in 1918 and 1926, which triggered a positive impact on the social and cultural spheres for the communities.
The Convention is a result of the collective efforts of Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust, Sivagiri Madam, Sree Narayana Mandira Samithi, Mumbai and Sree Narayana Guru Society of Sri Lanka aside from the other supporting and participating organisations, well-wishers and disciples. |
E-mail
