The Youth Technical Advisory Committee (YTAC) of the Family Planning Association Sri Lanka in partnership with Hashtag Generation and Youth Advocacy Network, Sri Lanka organized a 6-a side cricket tournament and quiz competition to commemorate World AIDS Day and mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence in December. The aim of the event was to raise awareness on HIV & AIDS among young Sri Lankans and address the stigma and discrimination faced by those living with HIV, and also galvanize action to end violence against women and girls across Sri Lanka.

 The cricket tournament coincided with the launch of IPPF”s ‘Know It Own It’ campaign underscoring the importance of access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education for all young people. The campaign supports young people's right to be able to access information and receive education that will enable them to be responsible citizens while having happy and healthy social relationships with family and friends where they take informed decisions about their day-to-day situations and circumstances and avoid risky behaviors that would impact their life negatively as young people, i.e. being in abusive relationships, experiencing unplanned pregnancies or acquiring sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. 

Special invitees Ms. Yehali Sangakkara and cricketing legends Mr. Roshan Mahanama and Mr. Tilakaratne Dilshan endorsed our call for Comprehensive Sexuality Education and to end all forms of Gender-based Violence in Sri Lanka through media interviews and appearing with their message of choice. They were joined by FPA Sri Lanka staff and students from the participating educational institutes. 

Prior to the commencement of the quiz and cricket competitions, an enlightening panel discussion took place with the participation of State Minister Vasantha Senanayake, Member of Parliament Bimal Rathnayake, Ms. Natasha Balendra (Former Chairperson, The National Child Protection Authority), Mr. Chandima Gunawardena (President, FPA Sri Lanka) and Ms. Priskila Arulpragasam (Chairperson of YTAC FPA Sri Lanka).