The government is proceeding with its plans to hold Sri Lankan Day celebrations on December 12-14 in Colombo as a national platform to bring every community together. The event, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, aims to promote unity. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent outreach to Tamil and Muslim political parties to brief them on the preparations for Sri Lankan Day is a constructive step. Engagement of this nature strengthens trust and widens the sense of collective ownership.

The vision behind this event would be to create a space where all citizens can feel included and respected regardless of political, religious or cultural identity. The National Peace Council believes it is very important that opposition parties and civil society organisations are also included so that the event reflects the full diversity of the country.

Civil society organisations in particular have supported reconciliation and community engagement even during the most difficult periods of conflict. They have long upheld the values that Sri Lankan Day seeks to promote. Their experience, presence at the grassroots, and long record of building bridges between communities place them in a unique position to contribute to the success of national initiatives of this kind.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath speaking at the recent event held by the Association of War Affected Women together with the National Peace Council and the Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections marking the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 recognised that civil society can be an ally in addressing national challenges. The willingness he signalled to work together suggested the possibility of moving from distance to dialogue, and from limited contact to cooperation.

We believe that Sri Lankan Day offers an opportunity to consolidate this positive shift. For the event to achieve its purpose, the planning and implementation process needs to reflect the principles it seeks to celebrate. We therefore urge the government to involve civil society organisations in a structured manner as preparations move forward. A collaborative approach will demonstrate that reconciliation is not only a goal of the government but a shared national effort.

Governing Council
The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.