A three day workshop was held at Ecumenical Centre in Colombo on 11, 12, 13 June 2010. A total of 30 social activists participated at this workshop from 14 districts.

The objectives of this workshop were to strengthen the capacity of the DAC members to understand the concept of reconciliation. At the end of the workshop follow-up were planned to practice non-violence as a means to promote peace and reconciliation in the post war context, by collecting evidences and reasons of effective ways in achieving peace & reconciliation in and around their society/working areas. The follow-up are to be facilitated by the NPC and the DAC members’ contribution is made in financial and human resources.

A total of 30 social activists participated at this workshop representing 16 districts, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Badulla, Ampara, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Vavunia, Kurunegala, Kandy, Nuwaraeliya, Ratnapura, and Kegalle. The participants were divided into groups and identified cases and planned activities based on selected districts by them.

Build reconciliation among Tamils and Muslims in Ninthavur village in Ampara, also build relationship among members of Tamil & Sinhala children's clubs in Hantana estates and Bahirawakanda areas in Kandy, and build unity among Sinhala & Muslims at Katukurunda in Matara through Shramadana program, mobile service to issue Berth Certificates and Identity cards for Estate Tamils who are suffering without the documents in Ratnapura & Kegalle are among those activities.

The DAC in Kegalle have organized a one day workshop on Reconciliation to educate government officers affiliated to Divisional Secretariat in Bulathkohupitiya. Those officers are to be involved in this mobile service to issue identity cards.
 

1. Follow-up Workshop at Weligama in Matara District - 06 July 2010

This awareness was held in Auditorium of Divisional Secretariat, Weligama in Matara District as the first phase of the case study planned at the end of the above workshop. The objectives were to make community leaders/field officers aware of the means of building reconciliation to understand the concept and to build better relationship among government officers and different communities (Sinhalese & Muslims).

A total of 38 participants were present including different field officers, Grama Niladaries and government staff. And they were educated about what is conflict & attitudes, conflict resolution, Pluralism in Sri Lanka.

This is an initiative of a collective effort by social activists and government officers to reconcile Muslims in Weligama Divisional secretariat and prevent future tension among them. The officers who came for the program were willing to take best effort to build relationship among the Muslims and support in peace building.  Also they asked for further programs for them as well as for officers in other divisional secretariats.

 

2. Follow-up Workshop on “Reconciliation through Attitudinal Change” - 12 July 2010

The DAC members in Kegalle have organized a one day awareness program on reconciliation and integration to educate government officers affiliated to Divisional Secretariat in Bulathkohupitiya after the above workshop.

The participant accepted as government officers that they should involve more with community to address community concerns. They accepted that to build better relationship among government officers and different communities (Tamils & Sinhalese) is a must.

They are now to support a Mobile service that is scheduled to be held at the end of July to issue Birth Certificates and Identity cards for Estate Tamils who are suffering without the documents in Bulathkohupitiya division, Kegalle.

 

 

                     Session in Colombo                             Group learning

 

  

                Active learning in Matara                            Team Learning