Gender Centre at South Eastern University

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2007

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OLUVIL, AMPARA DISTRICT – Hon. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing & Common Amenities, together with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Vice Chancellor of South Eastern University today officially opened the new CASP Gender Centre at South Eastern University. The project has been undertaken by the Canadian Agro Sustainability Partnership Inc. (CASP) and South Eastern University to increase gender awareness and equity in Ampara District and beyond.

The Gender Centre is housed in a dedicated building on campus. It has a mandate to assist with gender based curriculum development at South Eastern University, also to undertake gender related research and to play a leading role at the community level in promoting gender awareness and equity. Part of CASP’s funding support includes up to 20 small gender based projects to be undertaken at the community level throughout the District in areas such as increased employment opportunities for women, increasing knowledge of women’s rights, enabling women to play a greater role in the political process, etc.

Minister Ashraff and the Ministerial Task Force have responsibility within the Government of Sri Lanka for CASP’s preparation of the Ampara District Master Plan. CASP’s activities under the Master Plan are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Master Plan includes all sectors of socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and is to provide a way forward for the next 15-20 years. It encompasses tsunami reconstruction, conflict reconstruction, and socio-economic opportunities for the District.