Stand Up campaign event organized by UNIC Colombo
Over 1,500 people stood up against poverty at the “Stand Up, Take Action” campaign event held in the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka on 16 October 2009. The participants made the pledge in one voice displaying their commitment to the eradication of extreme poverty and its root causes and demanded their leaders to act now.
The event combined with the World Food Day celebrations took place at the Institute of Post Harvest Technology (IPHT) located in the city of Anuradhapura, which is 215 kilometers away from Colombo.
Participants included several Ministers and Officials of the Sri Lankan Government and Provincial Administration, the IPHT Chairman and the faculty staff, farmers, traders, teachers, students and the media. The Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services led the eight member ministerial delegation. The majority of the crowd was farmers and rural people from villages around Anuradhapura.
The programme included, among others speeches by the Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services, Chief Minister of the North Central Province, a stage play with a strong message on poverty and hunger, a presentation by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Colombo National Information Officer, screening of video on poverty, making the pledge, distribution of plants and vegetable seed packets and refreshments.
The event was organized by UNIC Colombo with the active support from the UN Communication Group.