News

Eight actualisation activities were conducted across the country under NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD. In addition, 15 local and provincial level dialogues with religious leaders and government officials have been held by District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) to advocate locally and nationally for social justice and inclusive reconciliation.
NPC gathered its grassroots network for a progress review meeting of PAIRS project, bringing together 48 leaders including heads of partner organisations, DIRC coordinators and members from 16 districts. The meeting fostered a dynamic exchange of experiences and strategies.

NPC, through its ongoing Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project, implemented a two day national level campaign in Kandy, bringing together 120 women leaders representing the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, marking a significant milestone in advancing women’s political participation, leadership and social equity.

NPC’s Executive Director Dr Jehan Perera took part in the first structured dialogue between civil society groups and the NPP government at a meeting to review the national response to Cyclone Ditwah. A small delegation from the CSO-NGO Collective was invited to the Presidential Secretariat together with senior members of the government team handling the crisis. The invitation itself signalled a willingness to draw on the experience and reach of civil society at a moment when the country faces an unprecedented humanitarian and reconstruction challenge.

In the face of severe flooding that has displaced thousands across Sri Lanka, the power of local peacebuilding networks has come through. District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs), NPC’s community-based formations, swiftly mobilised to provide critical relief to over 1,500 cyclone-affected people in seven districts.

Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented national tragedy as Cyclone Ditwah leaves destruction across almost the entire country. More than 25,000 homes have been destroyed and 365 lives lost, with a similar number still missing. Many communities remain cut off due to damaged roads, bridges and power lines.

As government agencies, volunteers and civil society groups work to meet urgent needs, the National Peace Council (NPC) is partnering with local organisations and its volunteer-based district inter-religious committees to deliver food, dry rations, safe water, medicines and essential supplies to families who have lost everything.

NPC appeals to everyone who is able to contribute—no matter how small the amount—to support this humanitarian effort. Your donation will help us reach families who are stranded, displaced or grieving, and ensure that aid is provided to people of all communities.

All contributions will be acknowledged with an official NPC receipt, and donors will be updated on how funds are utilised.

Bank Name                     :    Hatton National Bank PLC

Account Name               :    National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (Guarantee) Ltd.

Account Number            :   043010074017

BIC/SWIFT/SORT Code :    HBLILKLX

Reference Tag                :    SLFlood2025

Thank you for your support.

As part of the ongoing initiatives under NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the European Union (EU), a team of project partners led by Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL, engaged in a series of discussions with several political parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Social Justice Party.

NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project carried out a series of intervention programmes addressing locally identified community issues. These activities, implemented across multiple districts, aimed to empower communities, improve livelihoods and promote awareness of critical social issues.

Sixteen actualisation activities were held across the country under NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD. Driven by District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs), youth leaders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), these initiatives engaged over 6,828 (1,707 direct and 5,121 indirect) beneficiaries, transforming identified issues into tangible solutions for peace and inclusion.

A series of intervention programmes for conflict resolution were organized under NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Through this initiative, conducted in the Kandy, Matara, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Monaragala districts, groups identified key conflicts within their localities and worked collaboratively to empower women to take strong, solution oriented leadership in addressing them.

As part of the Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the European Union, two meetings were held in Kandy and Batticaloa to raise awareness about the significance of timely elections, bringing together 80 participants including representatives from civil society, election monitoring members, youth leaders and women leaders.

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co- funded by CAFOD, is transforming community dialogue into tangible action by bridging long standing gaps in justice, services and inclusion. Through a series of targeted actualisation activities and strategic facilitation meetings citizens, civil society and state officials are collaborating to implement concrete solutions for the most pressing local issues, turning advocacy into dignity and promises into progress. In September, 1,026 target group members were directly reached, reflecting the project’s growing impact and reach at the grassroots level.

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD, implemented in collaboration with its partner organizations, marked a transition from community dialogue to tangible action.

Under the project NPC together with the Kurunegala District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC), the Kurunegala Human Rights Organization, the Road Passenger Transport Authority and the Kurunegala District Secretariat office launched an initiative to promote equality and respect for all faiths on public buses.

Women and Youth for Civic Engagement (WOICE) project teams from Monaragala, Kandy, Kegalle and Badulla carried out community interventions under the third phase of the project implemented by the NPC. Each district identified pressing local issues and organized meaningful programmes to empower communities and strengthen social cohesion. The event highlighted the importance of bridging gaps between rural communities and essential services.

As part of the EU-funded Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, an online inter country exchange learning meeting was held to share findings from recent research on factors influencing voter preference in elections and to explore strategies with Maldivian partners. The meeting was structured around three key components: the presentation of research findings, reflections on the Sri Lankan context and a joint strategy discussion in light of similar challenges in the Maldives particularly vote buying.

District level closing meetings for the final phase of NPC’s Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project were held with the participation of the Universities of Ruhuna and Jaffna, bringing together university academics, students and government officials representing the District Secretariat.

In a compelling and thought-provoking interview on LMD TV, the digital video platform of Lanka Monthly Digest—one of Sri Lanka’s most respected business publications—Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, shares critical insights on the country’s political transformation, anti-corruption drive, and the need for inclusive governance.

🗣️ "The most special feature of this government is that it is following the law, the rule of law, and most of the Constitution."

🗣️ "Any abuse of power is an abuse of power. Any crime is a crime."

🗣️ "The change has to come from somewhere—and the most important place for change to come is the top."

Dr. Jehan Perera highlights the shift in public perception, renewed institutional independence, and why “governance must be multiethnic” to ensure lasting peace and development. He also cautions against restrictive legislation targeting NGOs and emphasizes the urgent need to decentralize good governance practices across all levels of government.

This must-watch conversation explores:

• Sri Lanka’s progress post-economic crisis

• Efforts to rebuild public trust through accountability

• The importance of rule of law and checks & balances

• Challenges in tackling corruption at all levels

• The legacy of the Aragalaya movement

• The role of civil society and institutional integrity

👉 Watch the full interview here