Regional business leaders meet

Regional business leaders through the Business for Peace Alliance, BPA and the Polonnaruwa District Chamber of Commerce, joined hands with the Secretariat for Co-coordinating the Peace Process, SCOPP in organizing a three day residential program to empower youth from border villages in the Polonnaruwa District.

The participants were from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim Communities.

The theme of this programme in Polonnaruwa tailored to create future leaders was, “Towards a prosperous tomorrow through business”.

The program was developed against the background where the regions in the conflict areas and border villages have been severely affected as a result of the conflict that has ravaged our country over the last three decades and the economy has faced set backs.

Due to the war stricken environment, services provided to villagers in the border areas were restricted. Agriculture, their main livelihood was also affected and their future was bleak.

These villagers have led a day to existence in fear of their lives. Elders have been concentrating mainly on how to protect the lives of their children.

The participants in the program hailed from such the border villages.

The villages were Manampitiya, Karapola, Kadhuruwela and Welikanda . Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities have been living together in these villages.

The youth empowerment program was held at the Hingurakgoda Rajatara Maha Vidyalaya.

The participants were able to learn from one another and share experiences.

Personality development, leadership skills development and training on health care were provided through special lectures and practical motivational sessions. The program also featured field visits, games, swimming and a cultural event conducted with a lot of fun and excitement around a campfire.

A highlight was a special session conducted by regional business leaders from various districts who represented BPA at this event. These business leaders, led by BPA Chairman, Suresh de Mel, shared their own experience in developing successful business ventures in the regions.

They enlightened the children on the benefits of embarking on entrepreneurship as a career option. They stressed that as successful business leaders, they adhered to responsible business practices and ethics.

Over 50 student leaders who are Prefects in schools in the Border villages, speaking diverse languages were selected for this program.

The services of a professional translator were provided to facilitate communication amongst the children who spoke different languages.

At the conclusion of the event, the children were committed to peaceful coexistence amongst the communities in Sri Lanka and to contribute to build bridges to bring together people of diverse race, religion, social and geographical backgrounds and unite as Sri Lankans.

The Chief Guest at the event was Director of the SCOPP, Himali Jinadasa. Delivering the keynote address, Jinadasa maintained that the Government of Sri Lanka was carrying out programmes to uplift the standards of rural communities and provide opportunities for development of youth who were affected by the conflict.

The Polonnaruwa District Chamber of Commerce under the able guidance of it’s Chairman, G. M. G. Dharmasiri, made all the arrangements for the programme.

Officials in the Schools, Education Offices, Assistant Government Agent’s Office and Business community in the Polonnaruwa District gave their fullest support to ensure the success of this event.

The Business for Peace Alliance, Sri Lanka’s network of regional business chambers committed to regional empowerment, national unity and corporate social responsibility is planning to organize similar empowerment programmes for rural youth leaders throughout the country under it’s “Learn and Lead” programme.