The Youth Technical Advisory Committee of FPA Sri Lanka (YTAC) together with Y PEER Sri Lanka and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, developed and launched a comprehensive national Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) glossary in local languages. This immensely improves access to accurate information in this area of focus, particularly for Sri Lanka’s large youth population, (15-24 years) which constitutes 15.6 of the total of population in Sri Lanka. 

In a statement, UNFPA said “Access to accurate information is vital to equip them with the knowledge, skills and values to make responsible and informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights” 

“This trilingual glossary is designed to assist in bridging the current communication gaps associated with sexual and reproductive health services, sexuality, HIV/STI, gender and sexual orientation, and will be a useful communication tool to help steer future policy directions”

FPA Sri Lanka President, Dr Pramilla Senanayake speaking to Ceylon Today said “The initiative to compile a glossary of SRHR terms was undertaken by FPA Sri Lanka's Youth Technical Advisory Committee comprising youth volunteers of the Association. In doing so, they have met a long felt need in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the country. The project took much longer than we expected but we can take comfort in its completeness, accuracy and finesse, as it had been perused, deliberated and refined by a set of eminent professionals in this field”.

During the programme a panel discussion took place on the topics of Youth, SRHR and Inclusiveness. Panel members were as follows;

Moderator: Dakshitha Wickremarathne (Y PEER Focal Point in Charge, Co-Founder of Youth Advocacy Network Sri Lanka and Lancet commissioner on adolescent health and well-being)

Panelists:

Dr. Neelamani Hewageegana (Deputy Director General of Health Services (DDG) Planning - Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (Hons), Doctor of Philosophy (Sheffield Hallam U.K.))

Ms Madu Dissanayake (Director - HIV and Advocacy of Family Planning Association Sri Lanka)

Ms. Nishami Perera (Youth advocate and Expert Panel member of the sign language committee appointed by Ministry of Social Empowerment and Welfare for the Sign Language Glossary)

Priskila Arulpragasm (Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights advocate, Member of the Youth Technical Advisory Committee of FPA Sri Lanka)

Ms Chammi Dias (Official Sign Language Interpreter and Expert Panel member of the sign language committee appointed by Ministry of Social Empowerment and Welfare for the Sign Language Glossary.

Mr. J.T. Sahiru M. Sameera, Chairman, Youth Technical Advisory Committee of FPA Sri Lanka and Ms. Uda Deshapriya, Chairperson- Information, Education & Communication Technical Committee of FPA Sri Lanka were significantly involved with the development and publication of this glossary.

The launch took place on the 22^nd of December at Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.

http://www.fpasrilanka.org/downloads/SRHTerminologyGuide.pdf