The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra felicitated Chair and Founder of the Canberra Circle of Women (CCOW), Carol Mead along with the Sri Lanka Coordinators, Chandanie Kottege and Dr. Nirmalie Rodrigo and several dedicated volunteers of the organization on 29 August 2025. The recognition was extended in appreciation of their sustained assistance since 2019 to girls and women in Sri Lanka. The Canberra Circle of Women (CCOW), a community-based organization, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to empowering girls and women both locally and globally through practical, grassroots-level initiatives.
The Canberra Circle of Women has supported thousands of girls and women across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka through two key programmes. Firstly, the distribution of “Days for Girls” high-quality reusable menstrual kits—hand-sewn by volunteers in Australia—enables students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to attend school every day with dignity. Secondly, the “New Mumma and Joey” baby gift packs—comprising items that are hand-sewn, knitted, or gifted—are distributed to expectant mothers or those who have recently given birth. These packs contain essential items for newborn babies and are facilitated through public health centres and selected regional hospitals. The “New Mumma and Joey” gift pack initiative is a programme carried out exclusively by CCOW in Sri Lanka.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canberra, Yasoja Gunasekera, in a brief welcome address, expressed appreciation to Carol Mead and the volunteers of CCOW, who work hard to provide dignity and practical support to disadvantaged women in Sri Lanka, both locally and in several other countries. She also delivered a presentation on the multifaceted bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Australia, highlighting the importance of people-to-people connectivity, as well as the rich culture and natural beauty of Sri Lanka. The address was followed by brief remarks about CCOW’s programmes in Sri Lanka, emphasizing the deep appreciation expressed by the thousands of recipients of assistance from the Canberra Circle of Women.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Canberra
02 September 2025
