media

WMC organized an extensive media campaign in order to raise awareness about the limited representation of women in the Sri Lankan political arena and to increase women's participation at the 2010 Parliamentary Election. Newspaper advertisements were published in leading Sinhala, Tamil and English language newspapers highlighting the fact that although 52% of the country's population consists of women, only 6.6% were granted nomination at the previous Parliamentary election.

WMC also took a novel step during this media campaign by launching a movie theater advertisement campaign in which the aforementioned facts were reiterated through slide shows that were displayed before each show at 25 movie theaters from around the country. The campaign was carried out during the last month leading up to the election.

The week before the election, WMC spearheaded yet another media campaign in which advertisements entitled "Give Your Preferential Vote to a Woman Candidate" were published in leading Sinhala, Tamil and English language newspapers. The advertisements also listed the women candidates from the three leading political parties (UPFA, UNP, DNA) and their respective candidate numbers.

WMC held its 6th annual film festival from 24th to 27th of March, 2010 as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. It was held at the Namel Malini Punchi theater, with screenings at 3pm and 6pm. The following films were screened: Dor (Hindi) by Nagesh Kukunoor, Frida (English) by Julie Taymor, The Lost City (English) by Andy Garcia and Ramchand Pakistani (Urdu-Hindi) by Mehreen Jabbar.

The aim was to show a selection of films that highlight different aspects of women’s lives, achievements, challenges, etc in relation to society, family, work and politics. The festival was open to the public and was an opportunity for WMC to showcase a selection of films sensitive to social justice and women's concern, to a mixed audience of women and men as well as women activists and social justice advocates working at national as well as local levels.

A media briefing was held on the 17th of February 2010 where all party representatives addressed the media on issues related to women's representation at elections and in particular about increasing the number of women nominations for the upcoming parliamentary election. Some of the speakers at the event included Western Provincial Council MPs Ashoka Lankathilake and Rosy Senanayake and Central Provincial Council MP Shanthini Kongahage.

A delegation of 25 women members from Rural Support Programmes Network in Pakistan, visited Women and Media Collective in November this year, to meet with its staff for a friendly dialogue and exchange of ideas on feminist activism in Sri Lanka. The meeting was facilitated by the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The Pakistani women delegation accompanied by local Women’s Ministry representatives, met with the members of WMC to share ideas and experiences about using the feminist perspective framework in their engagement with policy makers, communities at the grass root level and the general public.

Women and Media Collective celebrated its 25th year in women’s activism by organizing a series of events under the theme of “Changing Minds; Women and Changing Perspectives”, on how women are changing minds about others, how others are changing minds about women and how women are changing minds about themselves.

The main event was "Changing Minds", an exhibition by and about women. It included an exhibit on the history of women's activism in Sri Lanka and also featured the work of women photographers and women artists. WMC organized a mobile phone movie competition based on the anniversary theme and also held a raffle draw.

The opening ceremony was followed by a cultural show which showcased the talents of performers from the Surya Group of Batticaloa, the Sirambiyadiya Kaffir community and, Venuri Perera.

WMC screened 'Loka dekai, eka jeevithayayi', a film on sugar struggles and peasant women in the 1980's. The screening was on the 4th June 2009 at WMC. The film was produced by USVA / Women and Media Collective in collaboration with the Progressive Women's Front.

WMC condoled the death of veteran left wing political activist Caroline Anthony Pillai on the 6th of July 2009 by releasing a media statement. Click here to read it.

The film festival was held from March 23rd to 26th at the Russian Cultural Centre at 3.00pm and 6.00pm each day. The following films were screened: Brick Lane by Sarah Gavron, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud and The Secret Life of Bees by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

The festival was open to the public and was an opportunity for the WMC to showcase a selection of films sensitive to social justice and women's concern to a mixed audience of women and men as well as women activists and social justice advocates working at national as well as local levels. It was felt that given the wide network of organisations WMC liaises with, the opportunity to view films depicting different perspectives on women's rights issues would be most fruitful for many.

WMC produced 60 radio clips of two minutes called “Kadathurawen Eha” which primarily focused on women’s issues. The clips were aired on the Sinhala commercial service radio station, and received many positive responses from the listeners. Also, there were requests from the listeners to broadcast the clips in the Tamil language as well. As a result, Tamil radio clips were aired everyday on Thendral FM (104.8, 105.6, 107.9 FM) at 5.51am before the morning news. The clips were broadcast from the 1st of January till the 2nd of March 2009.

The thematic content of the clips raises issues with regard to women’s rights, violence against women, sexual harassment, international women’s day, migrant workers, women plantation workers, women in politics, education, health, and media. Based on the content of the radio clip, questions were asked at the end of the program where the listeners were encouraged to send in their answers. Winners were awarded cash prizes and many positive responses were received from Trincomalee, Mannar, Jaffna, Colombo, and Kandy.

WMC with the support of Women Defining Peace (WDP) coordinated the broadcasting of a TV campaign for a quota for women in political institutions as part of the We Women campaign.Two TV spots were produced in August 2008 Sinhala advertisements were telecasted on Derana TV and Sirasa TV, while the Tamil advertisements were telecasted on Shakthi TV. The Advertisements were telecasted from mid January to mid February.

WMC condemns killing of Lasantha Wickrematunge
January 2009
WMC participated in the picketing organized on the 9th of January to condemn the killing of Sunday Leader Chief Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and to protest against the suppression of media freedom. WMC also took part in the funeral rally of the slain journalist on the 12th of January and released a media statement condemning the recent attacks against the media. Click here to read the statement.
Click here to see photos.

WMC condemns recent attack on MTV/MBC Studio complex
WMC released a media statement protesting against the recent attack on the studio complex of the Maharajah broadcasting network. Click here to read the statement.

The 2008 feminist film festival (from 24th to 26th of March) screened the following films: The Take by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein; Provoked by Jerg Mundhra; and Sancharam by Steven Soderbergh. The films were screened twice each day and a discussion after the matinee show was facilitated by Prof. Neloufer de Mel; Kaushalya Perera, and Asha Abeyasekera. Positive feedback was received regarding the festival from the feedback forms that were distributed. Multiple requests were made for a monthly screening of films. The WMC commenced quarterly film screenings from May 2008.

The WMC in partnership with Young Asia Television completed the production of 30 minute talk shows in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The talk shows discuss various social issues and concerns from a feminist perspective. They were initiated to fill a much felt void in the talk-show genre. The subjects discussed in the programmes were: conflict resolution and the representation of women; participation of women in the political sphere; reproductive health and sexuality; representation of women in the media; the constitution and the rights of women; women, development, and the economy; labour and employment; and patriarchy, gender and the role of women in the family. These talk shows were aired through TNL channel in 2008.

The Stages Theatre Group approached WMC for financial support for their next Forum Theatre production scheduled to go on boards from 8th to 12th of March 2008. The topics selected for the performance included Marital Rape and Ethnic Conflict. The purpose of Forum Theatre is to encourage people of different perspectives to start exchanging views, to start seeing how people of different opinions look at a common problem. All the performance nights were House Full. Discussions on the topics varied each night, and the audience engaged in the discussion and debate that followed.

WMC Calendar
December 2008
WMC Calendar for 2009 was published in December 2008. It is a unique calendar featuring the work of female amateur photographers. The proceeds from the sale will be in aid of WMC projects.

Radio Spot Advertisements
October 2008
WMC is broadcasting a series of 30 second Radio Spot Advertisements for a period of six months, advocating peace related themes. The spots are aired daily on Sinhala National Service (98.3 FM) before morning news at 6.00am and on Sinhala Commercial Service (93.3 FM) before morning news at 6.30am. Listen to the clips online here.

Exhibition of Women's Activism
September 2008
'Her footsteps, from then to now', an exhibition highlighting the milestones of the history of the women's movement in Sri Lanka and contributions by women's organisations towards its development was organized by the Women and Media Collective on 27th and 28th September 2008.

The exhibition dealt with an array of issues which included Women and Politics, Women's Representation in the Media, International Women's Day Celebrations, Women's Voices for Peace and Violence Against Women.

1st September 2008
YATV in collaboration with WMC and Women's Campaign International introduces a new TV and Radio Talk Show Series from September 2008. The series highlights women's experiences and contributions to society. Click here for the broadcast schedule.

Radio Clips on Women's Issues
The WMC produced two-minute radio clips called "Kadathurawen Eha" which focus on women's issues. The clips were aired on the Sinhala Commercial Service radio stations in 2007. The clips raise issues such as women's rights, violence against women, sexual harassment, International Women's Day, migrant workers, women plantation workers, women in politics, education, health, and media.
You can listen to the clips here.

A feminist film festival was held on March 26th, 27th and 28th 2007 at the Russian Cultural Centre to celebrate the International Women's day. Films screened were Earth directed by Deepa Mehtha, Calendar Girls directed by Nigel Cole, and Rosentrasse directed by Margarethe Vontrotta.

After every film screening there were discussions on the film facilitated by Prof. Neloufer de Mel and a film reviewer Piyal Kariyawasam. The audience was interested in the discussion and requested that there be more film screenings at least once a month followed by a discussion.

An eight episode radio drama “Kadathurawen Ehaa” was conceptualized and produced in Sinhala and aired on the Sinhala Commercial Service (SLBC), on the impact of the peace process on individuals and communities, to highlight how peace has transformed people’s lives and discuss the consequences of war. The script was written by Kathline Jayawardena, produced by Mahinda Algama.

A short drama festival and a Musical Show were held in Colombo on the 28th November 2006 to celebrate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The theme of this event was A Tomorrow Free of Violence. The festival was open to the public free of charge and WMC made this opportunity to raise awareness among the public on the need to stop Violence against Women.

A feminist film festival was held on March 20th, 21st and 22nd of 2006 to celebrate the International Women's day at the Russian Cultural Centre, Colombo. The films shown were Karmush Pani (on the Indian partition and the life of a former Indian Sikh woman who was married to a Muslim in Pakistani Punjab); Page 3 (about a page 3 woman journalist and her search for more meaningful journalistic reportage and media engagement for women); 15 Park Avenue (on the life of two sisters – one a schizophrenic and her make believe world, the other a college professor) and North Country (on the struggle of a woman factory employee against sexual harassment at the workplace in rural USA)

16th June 2006
Media Statement- Women Condemn the Attack on Civilians at Kebithigollewa
The Sri Lankan Women for Peace and Democracy (SLWPD), of which the WMC is a member organisation, issued a Media Statement to all media institutions condemning the claymore attack allegedly by the LTTE on a passenger bus at Kebethigollewa on the 15th of June 2006.

Although it was sent to all media institutions, it was actually published only in the Daily Mirror on Saturday 24th June 2006 and in the Island on 25th June 2006.
View Media Release

21st May 2006
Press Advertisement - “Women say No to War”
The WMC sent a statement to H.E. Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Sri Lanka, to the LTTE, the Inspetor General of Police and to the English, Sinhala and Tamil newspapers calling for responsible behaviour and an appeal to stop the killings on both sides, the government and the LTTE. This statement was sent together with 118 women’s signatures. The statement was published on 21st May in the Sri Lankan newspapers Sunday Times, Lankadeepa and Veerakesari and on the 24th May 2006 in the Daily News. View Advertisement in English / Sinhala / Tamil

27th April 2006
Media Release - “Defend Women’s Right to Work”
The WMC issued a Media Statement with 65 women's signatures as a response to the ban on women working in NGOs in the North and the East. The same Statement with signatures was sent to the President, District Secretary in Amparai and Batticaloa and the LTTE leaders in the North and East.
View Media Release

11th -14th May 2006 (Vesak Week)
Radio Spot Advertisements
The WMC broadcast a series of 10 second Radio Spot Advertisements during the Vesak Week, as part of advocacy work on peace. This was broadcast in Sinhala on Sha FM and SLBC between the 11th and 14th of May 2006. The messages appealed for an end to all violence and killings.
Click here to hear soundtrack of Spot Ad.

May 2006
Month of Vesak (Buddhist Religious Day) Banner Campaign
A banner campaign for the Vesak month was launched by the SLWPD, demanding an end to the war. All the slogans used were related to Buddhism, and 36 banners were designed in Sinhala. These banners were displayed near pandols (the lighted structure used for Vesak), famous temples and at major roundabouts in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Katunayake, Polonnaruwa and Galle.

22nd February 2006
Radio Spot Advertisements to commemorate 4th Year of CFA
Twelve 15 second Radio Spot Advertisements, in Sinhala, English and Tamil were aired on Sirasa FM, Yes FM, Y-FM and Shakthi FM. The following message was aired through this advertisement:
"The Ceasefire agreement is four years old.
No more war!
Let's strengthen the ceasefire
Peace - not war
Life – not death
This is the appeal of women of Sri Lanka
By Women and Media Collective"

22nd and 23rd February 2006
Animated TV Advertisements
A 30 second animated TV advertisement was aired in all three languages, requesting that the CFA be protected. This advertisement was aired on Sirasa TV, MTV, Shakti TV and Swarnavahini.

20th February 2006
Katunayake Peace Vigil
The SLWPD held a peace vigil on 20th February 2006 at 1.30 am on the Negombo Road at the turn off to the Katunayake Airport. The demonstrators showed their strong support for peace in Sri Lanka, to the Government and LTTE delegations that were leaving to Geneva for the Peace Talks. More than 200 women from various organizations took part in this vigil.

Rala Matha Andi Roo TV Programme
July 2005
A series of Sinhala and Tamil television programmes on the issues faced by Tsunami affected women were telecast on Channel Eye and TNL. Topics discussed included female participation on decision making, right to land, domestic violence and violence against women, livelihood, and conflict, peace and the tsunami.

Radio Talk Shows on Tsunami Affected Women
July 2005
WMC broadcast a series of radio talk shows on SLBC Sinhala channel. Issues pertaining to women affected by the Tsunami were discussed in these shows.