A residential workshop was conducted to enhance the capacity of government officials in the Kandy District under NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project in collaboration with the Kandy District Inter Religious Committee. The workshop brought together 33 senior officers including the District Secretary, two Additional District Secretaries, the Assistant District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, senior staff from the District Secretariat and the NGO Coordinator.
Facilitated by Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, the sessions focused on inclusion, reconciliation and social justice, providing a platform for officials to critically examine policies and practices that impact marginalised communities.
Through discussions and group activities, participants reflected on real world challenges, particularly instances of discrimination, they have encountered in their official roles. Key concerns included gaps in social welfare programmes such as Aswesuma and challenges in disaster risk resettlement, especially regarding land tenure and the exclusion of vulnerable groups from decision making processes.
Understanding the specific challenges faced by different regions is critical to addressing local issues effectively. The training on inclusion equipped participants with the tools to recognise the diverse needs of communities across the country, fostering more contextually relevant solutions for future problem solving. By gaining a deeper understanding of geographical disparities, officials are better prepared to craft policies that are inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of each district.
The workshop deepened participants' understanding of inclusive governance and reinforced their roles as key actors in driving equitable policies.
By fostering dialogue and collective problem solving, the initiative strengthened their commitment to ensuring that administrative decisions are fair, transparent and accessible to all communities.
The PAIRS project made significant strides in fostering social inclusion and interfaith dialogue across Sri Lanka. Two social inclusion training sessions were conducted in Ratnapura and Kandy for key administrative officers, aiming to enhance inclusive governance and strengthen collaborative efforts.
As a benchmark initiative of the PAIRS project, facilitative meetings were also conducted in Monaragala, Kegalle, Galle, Colombo and Puttalam. In total, nearly 400 participants engaged in these activities, reflecting the project's broad impact.
Also under the project, an inter religious Iftar programme organized, coordinated by the Dharmashakthi Foundation, Kollupitiya Masjids Federation and NPC. The event gathered around 200 attendees including Western Province Governor Haneef Yusoof, Rev. Pallekande Rathanasara Thero, NPC Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera and Director of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Mr. M.A.S. Nawas. Firdaus Moulavi, along with other religious leaders, also participated, fostering interfaith dialogue and strengthening community bonds.
Through these initiatives, the PAIRS project which is supported by Misereor and CAFOD, continues to play a vital role in advancing social cohesion, promoting inclusion and bridging divides among diverse communities.