• Come together to affirm our opposition of war that has torn our country apart for over 25 years, militarising society and traumatising communities.
   

• Come together to affirm our opposition to economic policies that burden our people; raising the price of essential goods to unaffordable levels, destroying livelihoods and impoverishing the already poor.

• Come together to resist capitalist globalisation and development models that are imposed on the country, with huge costs to the environment and the poor; benefiting a tiny minority.

The Event That Was
The World Social Forum 2008 Sri Lanka wasn’t simply a local event; indeed it was a South Asian event. Featuring guest speakers and participants from the region and across the world; WSF Sri Lanka saw a true global fusion of freedom thinkers and activists.

The programme featured educative orations, exhibitions, cultural performances and 15 workshops (Spaces) to define and discuss common issues. The South Asian and national speakers analysed and proposed alternatives on several issues including agriculture, fisheries, climate change, women’s rights, child rights, privatisation of natural resources, peace and human rights. Participants and groups were afforded the opportunity to set up stalls to display and sell relevant materials.

People’s Space afforded participants the opportunity to:

• Display posters, banner and other publicity material consistent with WSF Sri Lanka theme at the venue.
  
  and…
   
• financial support to cover logistical costs, which including transport and accommodation for participants from the periphery
   

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Event Structure
WSF Colombo was designed and implemented such to afford maximum opportunity to get, give and discuss ideas, views and ideologies. The forum was hosted in all three languages (Sinhala, Tamil and English), with translations of speeches and text.

The programme sought to bring out and dispense maximum knowledge from one’s mind, but with enough colour to keep it from tiring. Amidst the orations and workshops, participants were entertained with cultural performances of song and dance by Jayathilake Bandara’s musical troupe, November Movement, the Puttalam Street Theatre Group and Women In Black. Their performances demonstrated the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, and sought to communicate further the issues at hand.

Vihara Maha Devi Park provided ample space and facility for the 1,400 plus participants, with the tranquil and green surroundings adding to the experience. The large space was well managed with participants offered easy access to the conference area, stalls and communication. Every available opportunity was utilised to display communication media, and officers at hand to direct and assist participants with every need. Everyone and group had the freedom to display and disseminate their respective ideas and opinions, and this was done freely.

The Speakers
Dr Sarba Raj Khadka
South Asia Alliance For Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Nepal
Director – Rural Reconstruction – Nepal
Dr. Khadka holds a Masters Degree in Science, and has been involved in a number of local (Nepal) and international programmes on natural resource planning and management.


Sarath Fernando
Moderator – MONLAR
Author
Mr. Fernando has been involved with agriculture and related issues for over three decades, and has published many works on globalisation, IFI and MNC. Having worked with a number of international social movements, his ideas and views are widely heard at both local and international level.


Susil Siriwardhana
Mr. Siriwardhana has worked for a long time in both the state and the people's sectors. He is well-renowned for having proven to government that ‘poor people could be trusted’ and that it is the duty of those who talk of development to support poor people fully.

He helped to turn these ideas into official state policy during the days of President Premadasa. Mr. Siriwardhana helped make the Million Houses Programme and the Janasaviya Programme. He achieved this devoid of any cultural or ethnic discrimination. He has been active in developing a literature for the Poor and by the Poor.


Nimalka Fernando
Director - International Movement Against Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
An Attorney-At-Law and women’s rights activist from Sri Lanka. She is a member of the Democratic People’s Movement in Sri Lanka, which is a coalition of people’s movements, NGOs and trade unions initiating action and dialogue for alternative development paradigms. She is President of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and the Women’s Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka. Nimalka is a founding member of Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives or ARENA and was a member of the ARENA Executive Board 1994 – 1997.


Karamat Ali
Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)
A lead member of the Organising Committee of the World Social Forum in Karachi in 2006, and trade union leader, Mr. Ali hold a Masters Degree in Labour studies.


Dr Ajantha Perera
Environmentalist and Chairperson, Association for Consumer Action
Dr Perera completed her schooling in England and proceeded to study at the University of Sheffield. After finishing her BSc. Special Hons degree in Biochemistry and Physiology, she returned to Sri Lanka and then moved to Germany to study her MSc and PhD in Munich, specialising in Environmental Science. Upon completion of her PhD, Dr Perera worked as a senior lecturer at the University of Colombo. She developed a National Program on the Recycling of Solid Waste, where she warns citizens that in order ‘To Protect The Soil Of Your Motherland, Your Garbage Must Be Re-cycled’
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A Space To Let – Discussion Points
 

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Participation and Perspectives
Over 1,400 people representing various organisations and fronts participated at WSF Colombo 2008. They hailed from different parts of the island, representing all communities, faiths and societal groups.

They said they came because they “see a need for change”, that for long they have endured under a system which alienates them for the benefit of a powerful few. Participants enthused at the opportunity for their respective groups to voice their opinions and aspirations at public forum, and asserted there was much to learn from the exchange of ideas and visions. The discussions and orations by the respective member organisations were very well received and the level of cooperation and discussion had programme leaders impressed.

Kumar from Badulla (Uva Province) remarked he was frustrated at discrimination pointed against ethnic groups, whilst poverty – at the behest of others – slowly lays waste to life’s prospects. He saw WSF as an opportunity and forum to express his views, plus, gain from useful opinions expressed by others. Kumar had collected much reading material during his visit to WSF, and he was keen to see what more he could take back.

Ranjith hails from Colombo and is a retired teacher from a leading school in Colombo. A civil servant for over 35 years, he now wishes to spend his time giving something back to society; to the part of it which “the system has let down”. Ranjith laments his age prevents him from doing all he would wish to further his cause; but took heart from what events like WSF. He felt the programme had much potential and opportunity to maker a bigger impact on the powers that be and the nation at large.

The active participation of women in large numbers was a significant part of this year’s forum. The two work groups that featured on women – Women And Peace and Charter On Violence Against Women – was well attended, plus, interactive. Many were those who opined that women bore the brunt of societies ills; be it impact from the cost-of-living or the war. Participants agreed that women had a much larger role to play in shaping a new society and development, and there was a need for action on change.
The event was colourful as it was informative, and much praise for adding colour goes to GMSL which contributed numerous literature in the form of banners and posters, plus, a protest cycle parade within the arena to drive the message of climate change. It even set up a mini-movie-centre on disaster mitigation. Sri Lanka’s indigenous Veddha community was also present, and they conducted a ritual to bless all those participating at WSF 2008.
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Professional View Points
It is significant that several networks working towards peace and anti-globalisation issues in Sri Lanka were able to come together to hold the event parallel to the International World Social Forum. We want to create an informative flow to people at grassroots. I believe that we need to create change in Sri Lanka, and to do that we need to relate to the grassroots – who are affected by all these issues. There are so many ideas that could be nurtured and people have the choice to choose the best and most relevant. We don’t want to pressure them into one framework.
We would wish to be able to calculate what change is made. Sri Lanka may have 7.5 per cent GDP growth, but 45 people die everyday from conflict. So, how could anyone say there is human security? We cannot just say no to war, we need to discuss how to solve it. We need to understand how it affects every person; be it security or even their agriculture. More than 1,400 people attended WSF Colombo, braving the security fears the regime is trying to create in the minds of people. I was surprised when I saw women from remote areas coming to see this. They brave the fears because they want the platform. A majority of those who participated were women. They have been at the forefront of many sectors, so the theme ‘Another Sri Lanka Is Possible’ is being carried forward by women. If you look at any activity to promote peace and inter-social harmony women are there. We should translate that participation to a more decision-making capacity and national level.
Nimalka Fernando
Director - International Movement Against Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
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Media View Points

The World Social Forum Colombo received fair coverage over local print and electronic media. Journalists were present throughout the event and they were seen mingling with participants and organisers alike, obtaining their views and perspectives. It is significant that media personnel were present throughout the event – and it was viewed as a mark of a typical interest inspired within by the magnitude and thrust of WSF.

The national media organisations present included:

The Sunday Observer       The Bottom Line
The Times                      Rivira
The Nation                     Dinamina
Sirasa FM
 

It would be appropriate to state that the proceedings exceeded our expectation – given the numbers and the degree of enthusiasm and interest in WSF. We thank every person who participated at the event and to our partners and all those who helped make it a success.

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE