International Women’s day was celebrated on the international theme of “Balance for Better” to encourage everyone to share responsibility through collective action for driving a gender-balanced world by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs on 8th of March, 2019 at the Veerasingam Hall, Jaffna.
Mrs. Rubini Varathalingam, Secretary to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Cooperative, Social Service and Industries chaired the event. Mrs. Kokila Magendran, Tamil Novelist, Poet, retired Deputy Director of Education, Valikamam zone was the Chief Guest, Dr. (Mrs.) Jeyadevi Ganeshamoorthy, retired medical consultant, Teaching Hospital & Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna also Chairman of the Jaffna JAIPUR centre for disability rehabilitation was the Special Guests and Ms. Swarna Navaratnam, retired Director Training College Section Ministry of Education and a social worker was the Guest of Honour. Secretary to the Governor, Northern Province, Provincial Secretaries, Government Agent of the Mullaitivu District Mrs.Rubawathy Ketheeswaran, other invitees and the general public also participated in this occasion.
Best women entrepreneurs at the district and provincial level were honoured and awarded with shields & certificates. Students who won in the easy, art and poem competition at the zonal and provincial level were awarded prizes and certificates. On this day, ten women who have been rendering valuable service for the betterment of women community were honoured by the provincial council.
As a mark of this event, a special loan scheme named as “Mahaleer Mahudam” was launched by Commissioner of Co-operative Development and Registrar Co-operative Societies and five women thrift and credit societies from all five districts were issued with rupees one million each from the co-operative fund by the Secretary to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Cooperative, Social Service and Industries.
Special dance events by the students from the schools and Faculty of fine arts also staged in-between the speeches by guests. The function brought to an end with vote of thanks by Assistant Secretary to the ministry Mrs.N.Laghini.
