Media Campaign for increasing women’s representation at Local Government (2010/2011)

Newspaper advertisements

In September 2010 WMC published several newspaper advertisements for a period of one month in Sinhala, Tamil and English in the following newspapers. They focused on the proposed amendment to the Local Government Act. Sunday Island, Sunday Divaina, Virakesari, Silumina, Sunday Observer, Dinamina and Virakesari. In January 2011 more newspaper advertisements were published in Sinhala and Tamil promoting the increase of nominations for women in the upcoming Local Government election. They appeared in Lankadeepa, Sunday Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Silumina, Divaina, Sunday Divaina, Virakesari, Sunday Virakesari, Thinakaran and Sunday Thinakaran.

Newspaper articles

Several newspaper articles have been published with regard to female representation at the Local Government Election which can be found at the following link.http://srilankawomeninpolitics.blogspot.com/search/label/news

Newspaper interviews

Ravaya, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina and Virakesari published interviews with regard to increasing female representation at the Local Government level.

Television and Radio advertisements

In September 2010, ITN, Swarnavahini and SLBC broadcast spot advertisements regarding the proposed amendment to the Local Government Act. In January 2011, spot advertisements are being broadcast on ITN during the following programmes. Sinhala News Broadcast (7.00pm and 9.30pm), Doramadalawa (10pm on Mondays), Dawase Paththara (6.15am) and Documentary (10.00pm on Thursdays).

Television and Radio interviews

On 29.09.2010 Chulani Kodikara of ICES participated in Home Scene, a programme on the English service of SLBC to discuss the representation of women in local government. On the 04.10.2010 Dr. Dhamma Dissanayake and Prof. Kamala Liyanage were interviewed on Subharathi in SLBC . On 06.10.2010 Sumika Perera of Women’s Resource Center, Kurunegala participated in Saara Sanvada on SLBC. In October 2010, Kumudini Samuel appeared on The Roundtable on Prime TV while Chulani Kodikara appeared on Interview on Ya TV. In October 2010, radio spot advertisements were broadcast addressing the proposed amendment to the Local Government Act.

In January 2011 radio spot advertisements on increasing nominations for women at the upcoming local government election are being broadcast before and after news broadcasts at 6.00am, 12.45pm, 6.00pm and 9.00pm) on the following radio channels. Sinhala National Service (98.3, 99.6, 102 FM), Sinhala Commercial Service (93.3, 106.9 FM), Tamil National Service (98.8, 101.3, 104.8, 94.2 FM), Thendral FM (105.6, 107.9, 98.5 FM).

Billboard

WMC has put up a hoarding in Torrington Avenue, Colombo 07 with regard to the campaign for 30% nominations at upcoming Local Government election.

Banner campaign

A banner campaign was conducted in Colombo, Badulla, Monaragala, Galle, Kurunegala and Trincomalee urging women to contest the upcoming Local Government election. This was conducted in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Poster campaign

An indoor poster campaign was conducted in Colombo, Badulla, Monaragala, Galle, Kurunegala and Trincomalee urging women to contest the upcoming Local Government election. The posters were also put up in government offices, AG offices, Gramasevaka offices, the Women’s Ministry, etc.

Postcard campaign

Postcards addressing the proposed amendment to the Local Government Act and also the representation of women at the Local Government level were sent to Ministers, Members of Parliament, etc.