2012-07-04 16:33:21

Sri Lanka, Christian activist wins National Peace Award


(July 04, 2012) The National Peace Council, NPC of Sri Lanka has awarded the Citizen's Peace Award 2011, to Christian activist Nimalka Fernando, for her work for peace and human rights. She was given the award for her commitment to raising awareness among citizens of their rights, in order to create a united society devoid of discrimination.. The awards ceremony, one of the largest nationwide, took place June 26, in the Lakshman Kadirgamar cultural centre in Colombo, in the presence of various religious leaders, social activists and government personalities. In her acceptance speech, Nimalka Fernando said: "In all honesty, I am just one of thousands of people and movements from the late '70s who have worked for justice and peace in Sri Lanka. This is above all the 'their' prize, more than mine, and I would like to dedicate it to all my compatriots. ( As the winner, this award puts me in front of a challenge. But it is also an encouragement for all of us to continue our work.) Her commitment as an activist began in the 70s in the student movement.. Currently, she is president of the International Movement Against all Forms of Discrimination and Racism, co-chairman of the South Asia for Human Rights, a member of the Nepali South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication and treasurer of the Mothers and Daughters of Sri Lanka. ( The NPC created the Citizens Peace Award in 2010, to honour and encourage those in civil society who have shown courage and determination to protect and respect human rights, to seek a peaceful solution to disputes and in creating awareness among different communities.) The prize consists in a sum of money, that Fernando will donate among the associations with which she collaborates.








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