As a response and control mechanism for poverty, hunger and malnutrition caused by drought and food scarcity in Asia and Africa in the ‘70s, various programs were initiated by world governments and international organizations. Foremost amongst them was the “Change Agent” program implemented by the UNDP in 1976. The program selected 10 individuals through a competitive process from the Asian countries of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and Mr. Podinilame was on of that elite group who were afforded highly specialized training.
Having returned to Sri Lanka, Mr. Podinilame joined leading luminaries in the social development sector such as Ponnavignaraja, Susil Siriwardhana, Prof. Sirisena Thilakeratne, Wilfred Karunaratne and Monica Ruwanpathirana to form the social organization known as “PIDA”. “Podi” as he was fondly known by the many thousands who knew, respected and honored him, worked as a highly charismatic lecturer and strategist in some of the most poverty stricken areas of the country where he planted in the ground the vast knowledge and experience that he had gained over the years.
Having left PIDA in 1985 as a result of a difference of opinion, Podi worked as an independent consultant providing expert advice to civil society organizations on change agency and social mobilization.
In 1986, while working with the CSO known as “Future in Our Hands” in Badulla, he became involved with the Norwegian Development Fund, and international civil group. In that year, he started the “Human Development Centre” in the Badulla district as an organization based on the fundamentals of social mobilization. The Norwegian Development Fund, which considered social mobilization and poverty eradication as crucial social actions, helped Podi expand this operation into all DS divisions of the Kegalle district. Subsequently, using Kegalle as his base, Podi expanded this poverty eradication program to other districts in Sri Lanka as well. Working with other partners of the Norwegian Development Fund provided his expertise and practical knowledge to other areas of Asia as well as to Africa and South America.
In the 1990’s, Podi was a leading lecturer and activist in the “Janasaviya” program which, at the time was considered a revolutionary plan for social development. In this capacity, he worked in the Kegalle, Ratnapura, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
In 1996, Podi acted as the Chairman of the 200 organization strong CSO network known as the NNAF and worked in a spectrum of sectors including agriculture, fisheries and the environment. As a leading mover of an effort to create an environment network of civil grounds, he became the first chairman of Green Movement of Sri Lanka in 1998.
In 2000, having constructed a small dwelling place for himself at Tholangamuwa, he expanded it as a beautiful training centre over 36 acres.
As a high quality human being deeply concerned about the internal ethnic strife and the terrible problems in the North and East of Sri Lanka, Podi received training from the Conflict Resolution Centre in London and subsequently worked tirelessly for the benefit of women and children in conflict areas of the north and east.
Despite his tremendous abilities and practical action, Podi led a simple life and based his daily routines on the principles of promptness, pre-planning, efficiency and timely execution and he exhorted both his students and the thousands of community groups he worked with to act in similar fashion as a core requirement for the eradication of poverty. As one who believed in practicing what one preaches, he was known to start work at the crack of dawn and work tirelessly throughout the day.
In fact, the killer accident that took Podi from us when he still had so much to contribute to us all, took place in the early morning when he started his daily work cycle. The irresponsible action of one mindless man behind a rampaging, speeding blob of steel floored this superb example of a human being and he lay in a coma for three days before he took his leave from us forever last Sunday. As a result of his untimely demine, he left behind still unfinished work in those remote villages and communities of Sri Lanka where he commenced his unreflecting and yeoman service to the suffering peoples of our country in the ‘’70s. However, the seeds he sowed in the name of social mobilization have yielded thousands of followers scattered across Sri Lanka and it is the high priority responsibility of those whom he left behind to complete his work as the only true tribute that would have been of any value to our Podi. |
