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.
The objective was to strengthen women’s leadership, enhance their confidence and equip them to identify local issues while developing sustainable, community driven solutions to conflict situations.
In the Matara District, the first conflict resolution programme addressed a health concern among school children - the rise of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the Weligama area. With the support of health officers from the Matara General Hospital, the programme focused on comprehensive sex education and preventive health awareness.
The second initiative centred on social inclusion and reconciliation in Puhulwella where two communities historically divided by caste came together to prepare and share a midday meal with children with special needs. The event symbolised unity, compassion and equality. The programme featured a cultural performance by children and included a distribution of agricultural seedlings to mark the spirit of cooperation.
In the Badulla District, a mobile service programme was launched in collaboration with government institutions to help plantation community members obtain essential legal documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates, addressing long standing administrative and literacy challenges. A youth focused job fair and a vocational training awareness session were organized, attracting nearly 100 participants. The initiative was praised by local government officials for its practical impact and community outreach.
In the Kandy District, the group contributed to the middle stream cleaning project, uniting youth and local political leaders to tackle environmental degradation. The group’s consistent advocacy elevated the issue to a key regional priority. As part of its civic engagement work, the team organized an awareness session for the people managing the district’s public toilet system, addressing sanitation issues affecting women. The programme facilitated a dialogue between contractors and government officials on maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring women’s access to safe facilities. The women’s group continues to monitor progress and advocate for accountability.
Focusing on the rights and protection of women in plantation communities, the Nuwara Eliya District group conducted an awareness programme on domestic violence, educating participants on identifying abuse and available legal remedies. Around 100 women participated, engaging with public sector resource persons who provided legal guidance and support. The initiative received commendations from officials for effectively bridging knowledge gaps and encouraging women to stand against violence.
“Most of the time, we get beaten for no reason. After working in the estate all day, we come home and still have to do all the household chores. They never help with any of it - just drink all the time. Then after drinking they come home and assault us. Even the children are scared. By evening, we live under great pressure with nowhere to go. Somehow we just endure it. But after participating in this programme, I realised that even if it’s against the husband, we can take action because we are protected under the law. We weren’t aware of that before,” said Thangamma from Nuwara Eliya.
The Monaragala District team identified the lack of female police officers during evening hours as a barrier for women seeking to file complaints about domestic violence. In response, it organized a meeting involving police personnel and members of the Community Police Committee, fostering discussion on practical solutions to improve women’s access to justice. Plans are underway to expand this dialogue to village level community police committees.
Building on the success of these interventions, several additional district level programmes focusing on women’s participation in conflict mediation and peacebuilding are scheduled to take place.