Small scale fishermen

The events are designed to focus attention on the United Nations millennium goal of halving the number of people living in severe poverty by 2015.

The organisers say not enough progress is being made and 50,000 people are dying every day from preventable causes linked to poverty.

Sri Lanka women

Large number of women gathered in Colombo to commemorate the day.

An event organised by the Women for Social Justice was represented by many underprivileged sections of the country.

Fishermen's protest

Sujeewa Fernando, a fisherwoman who took part in the event said poverty among the fishing community is growing alarmingly.

She said foreign fishing vessels which arrive in the Sri Lankan territorial waters not only destroy fisheries resources but also fishing equipment of the poor fishermen.

	Fishermen's protest

This has been aggravated by the ever increasing fuel prices which have caused enormous hardships to the fisher folk.

"We are facing difficulties and this situation has made our life miserable", Sujeewa Fernando said.

"We want to give our children a good education but they have to leave schools at an early age because we can't afford to pay for their food, clothing etc. But we want them to do better", she added.

Plantation workers

An estate worker, Govindan Yamuna from Nuwara Eliya said that the estate management is exploiting uneducated women who work in the estate sector.

	Tea estate worker

She said that they get Rs.135.00 a day which is hardly sufficient for a family.

"The cost of living is going up and it is difficult to manage day - today expenses, children's education and welfare", she added.

Padma Pushpakanthi, convener, Women for Justice said government's development programmes have not achieved anything for the poor.

Most of the projects such as highways, airport and buildings are only for the rich and these are producing only development refugees.