The book by NPC chairman Dr. Joe William entitled The Peace Process In Sri Lanka After The Ceasefire Agreement From 2002-2008: Systemic and its Application to the Peace Process in Sri
Lanka is about applying a specific conflict resolution theory, Systemic Conflict Transformation (SCT), an assessment of the background to the conflict since independence and the difficulties
encountered by the Norwegian-sponsored peace process from 2002 to 2008.

A three day exchange visit was organized under NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project for 114 Local Inter Religious Committees (LIRCs) members in Rakwana, Batticaloa and Addalachchenai to facilitate understanding through experience sharing and interaction.

The inauguration ceremony of the course on inclusive service delivery for sustainable peace at the University of Sabaragamuwa was conducted with the participation of academic staff, students and NPC members. Last month the same course began at the Eastern University in Batticaloa.

NPC was awarded a certificate of appreciation for training senior government officials on pluralism and fundamental rights in the Galle District. The concept and importance of pluralism was discussed at workshops attended by senior governmnt officials. Another workshop was also conducted for staff of the District Secretariat under the Plural Action for Conflict Transformation (PACT) project.

NPC concluded a residential workshop on improving the capacity of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) staff under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives project for staff at offices in Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa and Matara and Colombo.

Mannar and Vavuniya Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) members intervened to settle a dispute between two villages in their districts and prevented religious differences from turning into violent conflict while minimising the possibility of conflicts recurring over religious issues. The initiatives were taken under NPC’s project Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC).

NPC crossed a milestone in its peace building efforts with the Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) when it launched an advanced certificate course, Sustainable Peace through Pluralism and Inclusive Service Delivery, funded by Freedom House. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Centre for External Degree and Extension Courses (CEDEC) in Batticaloa. The Eastern University has accepted 35 applications from the district and divisional level public service officers and will bring in another seven from the university administrative staff who are front line officers serving a multi-ethnic student body.

The dialogue between the government and CSOs on the issue of a new law for NGOs is taking place regularly. NPC is part of the core group of the CSO-NGO Collective that is engaging in negotiations with the government, which is seeking the development of a new and all-encompassing NGO law to replace the present one.

NPC members had a meeting with members of the Puttalam District Inter Religious Committee to discuss the upcoming local government elections.