Mother Sri Lanka Project RUN
Project Run, an acronym of three powerful components, Responsible Citizenship, Unity and National Pride is a unique concept where children were motivated and encouraged to design projects that helped uplift lives and enrich communities across the island.
The holistic objective of this project is developing a ‘Responsible Citizen’ while instilling positive thinking and the values of ethnic harmony, leadership and teamwork. The project also focuses on enhancing entrepreneurship, leadership qualities and project management skills of the youth which will eventually develop students who are strategic thinkers, analysts, motivators and group achievers who can contribute towards Nation building at a young age. Launched in late 2012, with the blessings of the Ministry of Education, MSL Project RUN has become the practical aspect of the Citizen Education subject which will eventually help build responsible citizens.
The project has had an excellent progress with 1400 projects being implemented so far since the introduction of this program in 2013.
Schools Program: ‘අපෙන් රටට – රට නැගුමට’ – ‘My contribution to my country’
MSL was one of the first movements to start reconciliation work in the North and East soon after the end of the 30-year long war in May 18, 2009. We braved the journey to war-torn areas in order to implement the schools program in the East in August 2009 and in the North in December 2009. The response was overwhelming. 2600 schools consisting of public, private and international schools representing all 9 provinces participated under the theme “Apen Ratata, Rata Nagumata” (Our contribution to Nation Building).
Mother Sri Lanka Pre-schools Program
The MSL Pre-school programme was launched in 2010, under the theme ‘Deshabhimani Kekulu”. The MSL pre-school program was introduced to all pre-schools registered under the Ministry of Child Development with the main objectives being, to keep the country clean, appreciate the environment with the flora and fauna of our country and to understand and appreciate other ethnic and religious groups in the country living in peace and harmony.
The participating schools and teachers are recognized and rewarded at Award Ceremonies held periodically. The first such ceremony was held on May 28th, 2016 with the distinguished patronage of Dr A T Ariyaratna, who has been one of the most respected professionals in the field of organized pre-school teaching in the country.
Reconciliation and Peace Building Projects
North – South Friendship Bridge
The objective of this project is to develop trust, build new friendships and heal hearts and minds to stand strong as one nation embracing change with renewed hope. We had to build faith in mutual understanding, friendship and bonding that breaks through social stigma and racial barriers to enjoy happiness that only comes with lasting peace.
Interfaith Dialog
Celebrating freedom, initiating reconciliation and strengthening values of religious expression was the platform we built on to promote inter-ethnic harmonious co-existence within the country.
The programs called “Interfaith Music Festivals” are designed to create acceptance, impart knowledge, instill respect and promote tolerance in valuing each religion and its religious observances for the goodwill of mankind. The program would also celebrate the long sought-after peace in our country.
In celebration of the 64th Independence Day of the country, Mother Sri Lanka is proud to have organized Asia’s largest Inter Faith Music Festival in 2012, named “Celebrate Freedom”. Through this event, MSL brought together over 5000 children from all 9 provinces in the country to participate in a song and dance festival which represented all 4 religions, namely Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
Mother Sri Lanka Pirivena Program
MSL was soon to realize the need for the participation of religious leaders in spreading the message of responsible citizenship. In line with the same objective of inter faith dialog and peaceful reconciliation, the Mother Sri Lanka movement launched a project among 750 Buddhist pirivena education institutions in 2011, with 9 specific activities designed by the monks themselves to be implemented in the institutions. The MSL is currently working on expanding the program to Catholic institutions and have also started discussions with Muslim and Hindu educational institutions.
Mother Sri Lanka Future Forum
We seem to be in a time where much attention is focused on business or corporate related issues or political topics, with an obvious dearth of discussion on topics of vital social and personal importance to us. In this context, the MSL movement as a socially-conscious organization working towards the socio-economic development of Sri Lankans, have conceptualized and designed a series of talks targeting various focus groups on current topics of interest.
The series of talks will be held under the theme Mother Sri Lanka ‘Future Forum’ and will consist of at least three types of programs as follows.
- Topics of National interest targeting professionals
- Topics of Personal Interest targeting males, females and parents
- Topics of interest to low income households
Women’s Empowerment & Livelihood Development
For the hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules the world.
– William Ross Wallace
Needless to say, empowered and educated women will pave the way to changing the world. After all, isn’t it also true that it will be these same women who will in turn do the same for their own sons and daughters?
We believe that economic empowerment of women is the one of the most successful approaches to gender equality. Hence, we are engaged in livelihood development projects in Small and Medium Entrepreneurship development sector as well as through agri business sector and other selected sectors.
The backbone of our economy is the small and Medium Entrepreneur. However, most small and medium entrepreneurs in our country are unable to continue their ventures or are at risk of losing their livelihood due to their lack of understanding market trends such as supply and demand and new consumer needs. Mother Sri Lanka is engaged in projects that give a helping hand to self-employed men and women by guiding them in design, packaging and marketing of their products.
DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
Man will not survive without the environment
- The Minipe Yoda Ela is an essential resource for the people of Hettipola in their daily lives. It is the only source of water fulfilling the water requirements of those living in its vicinity and also depend on it for agricultural use. The pollution of this useful canal system owing to various activities of man was a contentious issue. Wilgamuwa Naminioya Secondary School, selected the purification of the urban parts of Minipe Yoda Ela as their Project RUN.
- Sadly, some segments of society are still ignorant of the grave dangers we face due to the callous destruction of the environment. The conscientious and responsible children of Mathugama Weediyabanda Maha Vidyalaya are working hard to convert the school into a pleasant place while cleaning the Palen Ganga and its banks which have been polluted by people who make use of the river.
- Kandy Lake, an integral part of the beauty of the city of Kandy, was threatened with the prospect of continued pollution due to the callous acts of people dumping refuse, unconcerned with safeguarding it. DS Senanayake College, Kandy was recognized by Mother Sri Lanka for taking the initiative to increase awareness among the general public of the damage done, affecting the beauty of the city.
- Nuwara eliya is featured as a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, as it is beautifully laid out, in the salubrious hills, blessed with a cool climate. Gregory Lake is one of the most beautiful locations in Nuwara eliya. Unfortunately due to the ignorance and indifference of the people, Gregory lake constantly gets polluted due to chemicals and waste materials which are dumped or syphoned into it. The manner in which the Mother Sri Lanka club of Gamini Central College intervened to save this lake was highly commendable.
Looking after the sick is equivalent to looking after me: Lord Buddha
- Walisinghe Harischandra Maha Vidyalaya of Anuradapura undertook the reconstruction of the Ayurvedic Ward of the Anuradhapura General Hospital to show their commitment towards Responsible Citizenship.
- The Government Central Dispensary in Pinnawela, is the only dispensary available for the villagers of Pinnawela, Kelimadala and Diddeniya to obtain medicines from, the hospital being 12 Km away. Fortunately because of its close proximity to the Rajapola Maha Viduhala it became the endeavor of the MSL Club, to have it render the service it was meant for, by cleaning and maintaining the premises to make it suitable and pleasant for patients.
- The highly commendable act of kindness towards improving the conditions of the OPD of the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital by the girls of Girls High School-Nuwara Eliya was highly appreciated by hospital authorities. It will be etched in the memory of the students, the hospital staff and the people, that these duties were performed with cooperation, mutual respect and commitment in a multi ethnic community.
- The cleanliness of some of the government institutions which are committed to serving the public are gravely lacking, owing to the heavy use of these facilities by the general public. As the orthopedic unit of the Colombo National Hospital was in dire need of a facelift, the students of Asoka Vidyalaya recognized this need and proceeded to engage in renovating the ward with the cooperation of the principal of the school, teachers, parents and the community at large.
United we stand strong
- Situated in Gajaneggama in the historical city of Yapahuwa, Gajaneggama Maha Vidyalaya – Rideebendiella joined hands and entered into a project with the Babul Adam Muslim College with a view to emphasizing the social and cultural links of brotherhood. The students of the two schools communicated well, using the universal language of humanity although they could not understand each other’s mother tongue. They held many programs and activities together thereby building long lasting bonds.
- Due to no fault of theirs, students of the war-torn North lost the opportunity of enjoying the freedom enjoyed by students in the South, for over 30 years. With the dawn of peace, they are now fully able to enjoy the same freedom. So it was with great warmth that the students of the Thirumurukkandi Vidyalaya welcomed the helping hands extended by the students of Ganemulla Kelaniya Jayakodi Maha Vidyalaya who travelled to the North, with happy smiles and loving hearts.
Our Roads to Success
- The Southern Expressway is the first highway in the country and it introduced many novel experiences to Sri Lankans. The students of the Mother Sri Lanka school club of the Janadhipathi Vidyalaya, Galle which is situated facing the southern highway, took action to clean and beautify the underground access road of the school which was hitherto used for illegal purposes.
- Mathugama Kumburawala Maha Vidyalaya faced the challenge of implementing a programme to reconstruct the derelict Baduraliya main Bus stand which had been neglected by the thousands using it daily, by converting it into an attractive, comfortable one.
Love Sri Lanka Festival
In Sri Lanka, we celebrate so many festivals on religious and ethnic lines, but we wanted an occasion that all Sri Lankans can come together and celebrate as one nation regardless of ethnic and religious divisions. Hence, we at Mother Sri Lanka (MSL) thought what better day than the Independence Day of our beloved Mother Land to celebrate the “pride of being Sri Lankan” as one nation.
Launched in 2018, to celebrate the 70th Independence of our country, the “Love Sri Lanka Street Festival” is conceptualized for the enjoyment of all Sri Lankans as well as foreigners and will showcase everything Sri Lankan. It will be a celebration of Sri Lankan culture, art, craft, street drama, local fashion and accessories, music and entertainment displayed and demonstrated during the festival. This unique event, is by Sri Lankans, for Sri Lankans for the first time in the history, for the true purpose of rekindling the nostalgia and emotions of being a ‘Sri Lankan’. Further for the foreign nationals, it will be an opportunity to enjoy of ‘All of Sri Lanka’ in one place.
This festival will be a celebration of Sri Lankan food & beverages, local art & craft, Sri Lankan culture and music. The festival will also have local street food and beverages, local fashion and accessories, gift items, games and entertainment. It is envisaged to make this an opportunity for small and medium local street food manufacturers and small time entertainers who will be allowed to perform and sell their products. Many Sri Lankan brands that have won the hearts of Sri Lankans will be a part of this event. It is a unique event that is conducted for the true purpose of rekindling the pride of being a ‘Sri Lankan’.