Women of Sri Lanka Tell Their Story
Women from Sri Lanka gave a first-hand account of strife in the north-east region of their country during a visit to Northern Ireland this week organised by INCORE, the University of Ulster’s Magee-based peace and conflict research centre.
With the area’s three-year ceasefire looking increasingly fragile, the trip provided an opportunity for women political and cultural activists to spell out their views on the region’s history of conflict – and to learn from the experience of people involved in trying to cement peace efforts here.
INCORE –underscoring its commitment to promoting knowledge and understanding of international conflict – has organised a series of visits to Northern Ireland from Sri Lanka by people of differing political outlooks.
The delegation included a Sri Lankan MP from Jaffna, Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan, who reflects the aspirations of her Tamil constituents in north-east Sri Lanka.
“We came to Northern Ireland to try and learn and to take encouragement from the successes of your peace process,” said Ms Sithamparanathan, “and we are especially glad to have the opportunity to tell our side of the story of Sri Lanka.”
Accompanying the MP are three activists from the Theatre Action Group in Jaffna, who work with traumatised communities and “help them tell their stories through drama”, according to Ms. Subajini Thurairajah of the Group.
The delegation are spending a week in Northern Ireland, holding meetings, seminars and informal discussions with politicians, civil society and academics. They are meeting representatives of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, and other political parties. Further meetings will be held with businesspeople, civil servants and trade unionists who have joined INCORE study visits to Sri Lanka over the past few years.
The Theatre Action Group was particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of a two-hour workshop with the acclaimed Tinderbox Theatre Company on Friday (May 26). “I am certain that there is much we can learn and teach each other, both as drama professionals and ordinary people,” said Ms. Thurairajah.
INCORE Director Professor Gillian Robinson led a seminar on the role of women in peace building and afterwards said: “Meetings such as these are of huge importance to understanding our own problems as much as the difficulties faced in distant places. The threats that seem to be arising to the peace process in Sri Lanka could happen to any similar process in any country. At times such as these faced in Sri Lanka at the moment, it is crucial that we listen when we can and offer what help we can deliver. Even if the best we can manage for now is words of encouragement, it is the least we can do.”
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[University of Ulster Press Release]
