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Last Updated : 2024-04-18 07:50:00
Gethsie Shanmugam, an 82-year-old Sri Lankan teacher who counseled war widows and orphans to overcome their nightmares are among the six winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards, the Hindu reported today.
Ramon Magsaysay Awards, which is regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, was named after the Philippine President who died in a 1957 plane crash.
Ms. Shanmugam and the other five recipients had been named on Thursday and the awards are to be presented to them in Manila on August 31.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said Ms. Shanmugam, a teacher and psychological counselor, won for braving bombings and threats of arrests in conflict zones to counsel war widows, orphans and children traumatized by three decades of brutal civil war.
“The winners were unafraid to take on large causes and refused to give up, despite meager resources, daunting adversity and strong opposition. Their approaches are all deeply anchored on a respect for human dignity and a faith in the power of collective endeavor," said Foundation's President Carmencita Abella.
Yoshiaki Ishizawa, a 79-year-ol Japanese historian who helped Cambodians preserve the Angkor temples, Abdon Nababan, an Indonesian working for the return of large tracts of forest land to indigenous communities, a Singaporean businessman Tony Tay, who leads the cooking of 6,000 meals a day for the destitute, the Philippine Educational Theater Association, a theater group which stood up to a dictatorship and Lilia de Lima, a Filipino who oversaw the opening of job-generating export processing zones are the other recipients of the Magsaysay awards.
Rohana casturi Friday, 28 July 2017 08:04 AM
Congratulations! As the Translator of her book in to Sinhala "JEEWITHA YAli GODA NAGEEMA " for Save the Children (Norway), Norwegian Refugee Council , I am very happy about her achievement!
BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 28 July 2017 08:42 AM
She is the actual true hero of Sri Lanka who needs to be made an exemplary icon for this nation. Unfortunately we are a arrogant criminal society who will never recognize the virtues of this act.
Jayaweera Friday, 28 July 2017 02:01 PM
Gethsie deserves the recognition. She is so spiritually strong and determined to help others.May you have more years to serve.
henry Friday, 28 July 2017 03:17 PM
she was my school teacher at St Josephs college colombo 10.A Kind hearted lady bold and brave was my mothers friend as well.long life .nice to hear about her award via DM Android App
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