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.