Colombo, April 6: The India Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) hosted an event on April 5, 2022 at Hotel Taj Samudra to introduce a project supported by the Foundation and carried out by Sinidu Foundation to meet the sanitary needs of underprivileged women in Sri Lanka.
The event was attended by Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Co-chairperson of ISLF, members of diplomatic corps, representatives from World Bank and Colombo Plan, Ms. Rifa Musthapha and Ms. Jazaya Mohinudeen, Co-chairs of Sinidu Foundation, Professor Maithree Wikramasinghe, and other women leaders from various walks of life.
The Sinidu Foundation is undertaking a project in the area of health and hygiene for women, to women and by women.
In her presentation, Ms. Rifa Musthapha pointed out that approximately 50% of the women in Sri Lanka are non-users of sanitary napkins because of high cost. Inspired by the innovation of Dr. Arunachalam Muruganantham (popularly known as ‘Padman’ in India), Sinidu sourced a low-cost napkin machine and raw materials from India for producing low-cost biodegradable sanitary napkins for underprivileged women in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Rifa Musthapha stressed that the Sinidu Foundation can replicate this model across the country whereby women’s group will produce the low-cost sanitary napkins. Earlier this year, ISLF has given an assistance of SLR 500,000 to Sinidu towards this noble cause.
Speaking on this occasion, Gopal Baglay, the High Commissioner, highlighted the role of women in the progress and prosperity of nations. Appreciating the developments in this regard in India and ‘Sinidu’ for undertaking this project in the area of health and hygiene, he stressed the need for organizing awareness camps on the project, especially in the rural areas.
Since its inception in 1998, the India – Sri Lanka Foundation has been continuously fostering people-to-people ties between the two countries through economic, education, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The specific focus of the ISLF pivots around supporting creative initiatives and bringing together the youth and the civil societies of the two countries for growth and prosperity. Till date, the Foundation has funded more than 300 projects worth SLR.150 million and currently 20 projects in the areas of research, art & culture, social work, science and technology etc. are in progress.
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