Sri Lanka’s Visaka Dharmadasa awarded international peacebuilding award

Sri Lanka’s Visaka Dharmadasa has been awarded the Fifth Annual Laureate of Women Building Peace Award by the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP).

This international award, which is given annually, honors women of extraordinary commitment, leadership and impact who are working to resolve violent conflict and build peace in their communities.

“Visaka is a woman of courage and tenacity,” said Ambassador George Moose, USIP’s Acting President and CEO. “As someone who has worked as a peacebuilder for over three decades, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace in the face of extreme difficulties.”

USIP’s Women Building Peace Council, comprised of distinguished experts and advisers, selected the Laureate and two Finalists, Lilly BeSoer of Papua New Guinea and Mairo Mandara of Nigeria. The three women were selected from over 170 nominations received from 52 countries.

“In Sri Lanka, where conflict has been fueled by societal divisions, Visaka’s work is a testament to the power of mediation and compassion,” said Council Co-Chairs Marcia Carlucci and Megan Beyer.

Visaka Dharmadasa is the chair and chief operations officer of the Association of War Affected Women, an organization that facilitates cross-community dialogues and educates soldiers and community leaders about international standards for the conduct of war. In the midst of Sri Lanka’s civil war, after her son, a young military officer, was reported missing in action, Visaka established Parents of Servicemen Missing in Action as a mechanism for families to investigate the fate of loved ones who had been reported as missing.

Visaka Dharmadasa’s organization empowers Sri Lankan women and prepares them for leadership opportunities in their communities and in local government.

Established in 2019, the Women Building Peace Award is given each year to a woman peacebuilder who has made a significant contribution in her country or region to end violence, and prevent, mitigate and resolve conflict.

To date, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) has honored five women as award laureates and 30 women from 17 countries as finalists. These women have succeeded in building peace in some of the most difficult environments imaginable by forging alliances, resolving grievances, educating and keeping people safe from violence. (Colombo Gazette)