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| Thursday, 21 October 2004 |
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The Northern Illinois University (NIU) in Dekalb, USA in partnership with the Open University of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) is making preparations to launch in January 2005 a collaborative Diploma programme on Good Governance and Leadership for those who aspire to hold public office and others who wish to be in civil society leadership. This timely initiative will also be strengthened by video teleconferencing facilities provided by SLIDA, enabling participants to have lively discussions with eminent faculty members at NIU. This programme aimed at strengthening Sri Lankan democracy is sponsored by the US Department of State as an extension of a previous Project aimed at empowering Sri Lankan womens' organizations at grass roots level. Eight eminent Sri Lankan academics with multi-disciplinary training in Social Sciences were selected by the Americans to undergo intensive conceptual training on this subject at NIU from 20th September to 8th October at the NIU Campus in Dekalb. These academics enriched their knowledge of good governance with elaborate discussions, held with Mayors of Dekalb and Chicago City Councils. These discussions helped them to gain insights into the spirit of local governance in the USA. Of the issues discussed were, social and ethical responsibilities of elected representatives and public officials, access to information, public accountability and transparency, elimination of politically and administratively corrupt practices, dignity and decorum in public office, ethical communication in leadership, empowerment of people for poverty alleviation, and role of civil society and social movement in strengthening democracy. In this project, the Northern Illinois University team will be led by a leading Sri Lankan born American Educationist Dr. Jaya Gajanayake who will function as Project Director, Professor Laurel Jeris, Project Advisor, Dr. Murali Krisnamurthi, Project Consultant, Dr. Debbie Pierce, Executive Director, International Programmes and Dr. Lina Ong of the International Training Office. The Sri Lankan team will include Dr. Mahim Mendis, Head of the Open University's multidisciplinary Department of Social Studies as the Course Advisor, Kumudu Tennekoon, Director of SLIDA as Course Director, Dr. Shironika Karunanayaka of the Open University of Sri Lanka as the IT Advisor, Dr. Wijaya Jayatilaka of the University of Peradeniya, Ms. Nandani Gunasekera, Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance, HMPB Herath, Ms. Pradeepa Serasinghe, Ms. Neranjala Jayasundara of SLIDA as Consultants. Commenting on the potential of this US - Sri Lanka Collaboration, Dr. Mahim Mendis, the Course Advisor for the Sri Lankan Team stated, "Those who cherish democracy among the Sri Lankan academia cannot any longer be indifferent to rapidly deteriorating democratic values among mandated representatives and the people at large. In Sri Lanka, those who are servants of the people tend to believe that they are masters of the people. Democratic freedoms are used habitually to destroy democracy with shameless lies and deception. Our team travelled all the way to Illinois, the State that produced President Abraham Lincoln to be guided by their foundation statements and practices. We went to America with a spirit of learning and are now committed to be change agents with inspiration from this most formidable democracy". |
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