The effective implementation of democracy is vital for the economic, human and social development of any developing country. Ensuring human rights and democratic practices through institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is essential. International communities such as the European Union are keen to support the protection of public rights and freedom. Their involvement in election monitoring, legal reform and development assistance is crucial.
Achieving true inclusion requires addressing the needs of minority communities such as the Tamils, Malaiyaha and Muslims. A critical starting point for fostering peace is reforming the education system. Schools should be integrated rather than segregated by language or ethnicity and all students must be treated equitably to prevent discrimination.
In order to address such concerns, NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice project was inaugurated in Colombo with the participation of representatives from 16 partner organizations with three delegates from each organization. The participants engaged in discussions on the project's objectives, implementation strategies and the challenges in achieving sustainable peace. Valuable insights and feedback were shared for further consideration.
Some of the other issues highlighted during the meeting were that the Tamils have consistently called for a political solution to the ethnic conflict but successive governments have failed to address the conflict's root causes. Therefore international support is needed to resolve these issues. The Malaiyaha community, which has lived in Sri Lanka for 200 years, lacks secure land and formal addresses. Many work as low wage labourers in tea estates. Addressing their issues is essential for sustainable development.