Appreciations

The Late Beulah Moonesinghe, well known for her services to rural women through Agromart Foundation is remembered on her birthday, which fell on February 9, by the numerous women who benefited by her work.

Agromart was first launched in 1986, as a project of the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) when Beulah Moonesinghe was the Chairperson. In 1989, it was moved away from WCIC and established as a separate non-governmental organisation. The reason for this was that Project Agromart focused on rural women while the focus of WCIC was urban business women. Since that time Beulah was totally immersed in Agromart and its work in promoting entrepreneurship, economic literacy and leadership among rural women. Her dedication and enthusiasm is gratefully acknowledged by many who have come up in life as a result. Agromart which first started in Kurunegala in the North Western province, was extended to the Southern, Eastern and Uva provinces.

Speaking on behalf of the former Galle Agromart members, M.W. Irangani, said she carried on a Batik enterprise with the support and assistance given by Agromart and personal interest shown by Beulah Moonesinghe. “We backward villagers were empowered and helped to come forward to give leadership to other rural women,” Irangani said. “Over 50,000 rural women from very backward villages were helped with training courses on varied subjects which enabled them to start off on a self-employment project. With the training we received we were able to carry on our enterprises successfully and progress. I was also fortunate in being able to visit Thailand on an Agromart training tour, where I gained much experience and useful knowledge. This was a dream I could never have realized on my own.”

In grateful memory of their benefactor, Irangani together with several former Agromart members have set up a Beulah Moonesinghe Memorial Welfare Association in Habaraduwa. “Through this association, we are trying to give other women the assistance we were given by Mrs. Moonesinghe,” they say.

W. Rita Perera, from Puttalam, also a member of the Beulah Moonesinghe Memorial Committee, said she first came in contact with Agromart in 1990. “I was with Agromart until Mrs. Moonesinghe’s death in 2003,” Rita said. “By then I was in the training section, helping to train others.

“I was educated only up to Grade 5,” said Rita who was the wife of a fisherman. “Yet, I was able to work for 11 years as treasurer of our Sarvodaya Committee. I got this ability from the training I received from Agromart through Mrs. Moonesinghe.” Rita also carried on a Batik enterprise, employing 30 – 35 people. “She showed us how to carry out an enterprise at low cost. Although I did a job I did not have the confidence to meet the public. Agromart strengthened and empowered us. From our district over 100 people have been to Thailand on a training tour. I am speaking from the heart when I say that to me, Mrs. Moonesinghe was like a parent. She showed us loving kindness and helped us to grow. We now wish to take her example and give the training we received to other rural women like us. We have formed small committees. We go to the villages and discuss with other women and help them in their problems. We have the desire to take Beulah Moonesinghe’s name forward by trying to continue her work.”

She empowered rural women