Upali Magedaragamage - "To protect, promote and uphold democracy and good governance"

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"To protect, promote and uphold democracy and good governance"

Maharagama, Sri Lanka
male, age 67
married, 3 children
Speaks: English, Sinhalese and little Tamil
Joined Jul 21, 2010

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I am a rural sociologist, working as an NGO activist since 1977. Instrumental in initiating National Development Foundation an NGO which facilitated organising and mobilising people's organisations to renovate ancient minor irrigation reservoirs in the dry zone of Sri Lanka for cultivation and ecological enhancement. An action research practitioner and a PRA follower who believe empowering people, especially women, for democratic good governance. Served as an exco member of the Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD), which was having consultative status with FAO, ECOSOC and UNICEF, and was elected as the Coordinator of ACFOD in 1998 and was based in Bangkok. Have worked with hundreds of NGOs and was the founder Secretary of the National NGO Council of Sri Lanka. At present active in sharing social, economic, political, cultural development and environmental information through Asian Network for Culture and Development which was founded for the purpose. A facilitator in institutional capacity building and HRD.

Personal		Professional		Contact		Singles

Joined	Jul 21, 2010	Activist Aspirations	Enthusiastic
Here for	Meeting Friends, Professional Connections, Support a Cause
Group Host of	none yet
Groups	Domestic Economic Abuse (D.E.A.)

Hometown	Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Homepage
Birthday	April 02, 1946
Languages	English, Sinhalese and little Tamil
About Me	A simple man who tries to follow the path shown by the Buddha, the awakened one who said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. " Try my best to "Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience. Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." As preached by the Buddha.
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Lifestyle
Pets	No special pets. All animals are pets!
Activist Aspirations	Enthusiastic
Political Leaning	Very Liberal
Religions	Buddhism and spiritual side of religions
Eating Habits	All kind of food
Wild Fact About Me	Travelling on new paths to discover
My Philosophy	Simplicity
What Gives Me Hope	People, especially brave and courageous women and children.
If I were Mayor, I'd make the world a better place by	Practice simplicity and stop inappropriate investments, erroneous and improper treatments, and keep away from inequitable consumption.
What/who changed my life and why	The Buddha.
What Bugs Me	Destroying the planet !!!
Passions	Discovering new insights
Inspirations	Good and brave people, Nature
What Scares Me	My own ignorance
Favorites
Role Models
Quotation	The jungle is a generous being. It provides everything it generates without expecting anything in return. So generous even it gives shade to the axe man who comes to fell it. The Buddha
Interests	Governance, wildlife, environment, Travel/Adventure, Spirituality/Philosophy
Books	Publications of IDS of Sussex University, Development Dialogue by Dag Hammerskjold
Music	jazz, Yanni, Sissel Kyrkjeb�, Celtic Women
Movies	Gandhi, Invictus, Braveheart
TV Shows	AlJazeera News/English
Favorite Foods	Home cooked food by my wife
Favorite Places	My home cum my office
Can't Live Without	trees and nature
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