Intl Confab on Indian Tamils in British Ceylon and Sri Lanka: Pursuing their equality

Arrangements are being finalized for an international conference that aims to spotlight the progression towards equality and inclusive growth for the Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka. The event, titled ‘Moving towards equality and inclusive growth: 200 years of People of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka,’ is scheduled to take place at the BCIS Auditorium (The Olympus), BMICH, Colombo, on Dec 11.

A coffee plucker…19th century

The conference’s welcome and opening address will be presented by Dr. Mario Gomez, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Colombo. Following this, Dr. Yasodara Kathirgamathamby, the Conference Chair from the Department of Legal Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at The Open University of Sri Lanka, will deliver the inaugural address.

Prof. Gamini Keerawella, the Executive Director of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in Colombo, will present the Special Address. The keynote speech will be delivered by Mr. Kumar Nadesan, the President of the Global Organization of Peoples of Indian Origin – Sri Lanka Chapter.

The conference will feature guest speakers, Prof. Deepika Udagama from the Department of Law, Faculty of Arts at the University of Peradeniya, and Prof. Subeshini Moodley from the Department of Media & Communication at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa.

The event’s Chief Guest is slated to be Supreme Court Justice S. Thurairaja, PC. The Vote of Thanks will be extended by Ms. Yohani Dodangoda, the Communications Officer at ICES (International Centre for Ethnic Studies).