Women living in the conflict affected areas of the East of Sri Lanka will be celebrating International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, 2001, in Polonnaruwa.

The celebrations will focus on peace and on women’s potential to contribute to peace-making in the country. The day will commence with a peace rally and march in Polonnaruwa town starting at 10.00 a.m. from the Kanduruwela Hospital junction, followed by a meeting at the Polonnaruwa Co-operative Hall.

The event is being organised by the Polonnaruwa District Women’s Committee, comprising of women from all ethnic communities and will be attended by women from different regions and sectors. The Women and media Collective in Colombo has facilitated the event.

This event will celebrate ethnic diversity and acknowledge women’s experience and contributions to maintaining peace within their war torn communities. It will also seek to draw attention to women’s contributions to peace-making recognised at a national level and include a discussion of women’s experiences and presence in peace making efforts at the national level.

We invite both women and men concerned and committed to working towards a just peace in Sri Lanka to join this very special and significant event and celebration in Polonnaruwa on March 8th International Women’s Day.