Life style

Lawyers for a larger cause

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/15

Sisters-at-Law, the free legal service supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence marks three years of yeoman silent service this month. Its founder Marini de Livera recaps its journey while urging more women lawyers to become change-makers.

by Randima Attygalle

“I have realized more and more that the right to access justice is a privilege enjoyed by the rich and the affluent of our society. Law is something that is discussed by the elite in air-conditioned offices and never reaches out to the communities. The poor and the down-trodden have no one to advise them when facing oppression and injustice. The Law is beyond their reach,” observes human rights lawyer Marini de Livera, the founder and the Chairperson of Sisters-at-Law, a free legal service supporting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. De Livera’s efforts have been honoured with Commonwealth Points of Light Award in 2020 and Women of Courage (2019) from the US Department of State.

This former Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) remarks that to bring about change, social justice and make the country and the world a happier place, there is no need to hold a top Government position or be highly connected. All that’s needed is “imagination, a vast amount of energy and unlimited passion.” As a legal academic De Livera saw the futility of Human Rights education within the confines of a classroom. “Without actually experiencing and listening to the stories of survivors, it is impossible to be an instrument of change and find solutions to problems that plague society, especially Human Rights violations. Thus, Sisters-at-Law (SAL) was born in August, 2018 to create awareness about the laws and policies relating to Human Rights and to promote activism through forms of art,” says the human rights trainer (for the army, police, public officials, and grassroots level leaders) who has also been a member of the Steering Committee on the Rehabilitation of Child Soldiers, the Prisons Reform Committee, and the National Committee on Women. De Livera also chaired the committee that drafted the amendments to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.

During the three years since its inception, SAL had represented survivors of violence in a number of pro bono cases from the Magistrate’s Court to the Supreme Court says its founder. Referrals are made by the courts and the Police to SAL which not only provides free legal representation but also empowers survivors. Located in Battaramulla within her legal chambers, D

e Livera has provided SAL with an inviting atmosphere where victims of violence can unwind, have a hot drink or a warm meal and decide on how they should proceed.

Filling the need for long term support for survivors, SAL has expanded to offer educational programmes, skills training and income generating activities beyond lodging facilities. Guided by people-centric and strength-focused principles, once a girl or a woman is admitted to a SAL’s shelter, she is asked what her dream is and a ‘Care Plan’ is prepared for each to realize her dream aligned with SAL’s belief that all girls and women deserve an opportunity to find their voice and potential while being able to live a dignified, peaceful and a happy life. “Based on the Care Plan we allocate funding by raising our own funds and also appoint a ‘Care Manager’ who ensures that all steps in the Care Plan are adhered to and the Senior Management reviews the Care Plan,” explains De Livera.

Largely self-funded, SAL finds it challenging to sustain its activities. “Initially we had two shelters, one in Colombo and the other in Galle. Due to lack of funds, we were forced to close down the Galle shelter,” says De Livera. A woman whose road has never been easy, she calls herself ‘unstoppable’ and is in the process of setting up SAL’s own dress making business to help more women and girls in need. A gifted artist and a Licentiate teacher in Speech and Drama from Trinity College London, De Livera uses art as a therapeutic means of healing and empowering survivors. She has her own street theatre group, with her own bird mascot Bindoo that travels around the country performing plays related to human rights issues.

Although the Prevention of the Domestic Violence Act of 2005 speaks of the need for shelters for victims of violence, there is still a dearth of them in the country, notes De Livera. Such shelters should not however be ‘prison-like’ unhappy places but ‘peaceful and safe heavens’ where survivors could take informed decisions relating to their future and train and empower themselves to function on their own, contribute to society and become productive citizen, she adds. Networking with members from the medical profession, religious leaders, psychologists and clinicians, educators, business sector etc. is imperative to build a support system for the survivors, observes SAL’s founder.

Urging young women lawyers to be change-makers, De Livera also says that they need more role models. “They also need to be sensitized and at SAL we make it happen in our own little way. We hope to train a pool of legal experts in all fields who can also represent the marginalized in court.” She reiterates that women lawyers need to be proactive to ensure that the concept ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights’ become a reality. “Sri Lanka signed the CEDAW Convention in 1981. Yet to date no domestic law has been passed by our Parliament incorporating Women’s Human Rights enshrined in CEDAW into Sri Lankan Law. Women lawyers should advocate and lobby for law reform.” The Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act which was passed in 2015 provides for compensation to victims of a crime. However, the Victims’ Authority does not have a Fund to be used for this purpose, charges De Livera who goes on to remark that women lawyers should be trained to identify these issues and agitate for their realization.

Making a case for girls and women whose abuse is rampant and whose only option should not be to become a domestic worker, the activist lawyer calls fellow women to rally around to empower them at grassroot level. “There are graduates employed at every Divisional Secretariat. They function as representatives of all Cabinet Ministers in the capacity of Child Protection Officers, Women Development Officers and Probation Officers. In certain parts of the country these officers have prepare a document known as a ‘child vulnerability card’ that assesses the danger every child is exposed to.”

She also maintains that schools should work with the NCPA and the Probation Department and detect and track if school drop-outs are trafficked to Colombo and other cities by unscrupulous agents to earn money out of them. “Systems are already in place – it is only a matter of implementing them. Women lawyers in this country can be the driving force to advocate for the implementation of policies and laws,” concludes De Livera.

If you wish to support or rally around
Sisters-at-Law, write to helpsistersatlaw@gmail.com

All News Advertisement

Life style

Grace, grooming and confidence

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The leadership team behind the academy at the head table

Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

Life style

From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

Life style

Pakistan’s 86th National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

Published

5 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan with traditional flavour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive democratic welfare state.

The day commemorates a defining moment that led the foundation for the creation of Pakistan.

The ceremony commenced with the raising of their national flag, fluttering proudly against the morning sky, symbolising faith, unity and discipline, the ideals upon which the nation was built. Dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and guests gathered in silence as the national anthem resonated creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and national pride .

Cultural elegance added a distinctive charm to the occasion, with traditional attire and warm exchanges reflecting the rich heritage of Pakistan. Guests were later invited to partake in light refreshments, providing an opportunity for cordial interacton and celebration.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tune of Pakistan’s national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan High Commission

The National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23rd March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Special messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were readout, in which both the leaders highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in her message on the occasion said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka continue to maintain their traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations, based on mutual respect and trust. She said that the strength of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka relationship lies in diversified engagement in many fields such as trade, defence, science, culture, and education. She also extended sincere greetings and best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Sri Lanka.