NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD in partnership with a wide network of partner organizations, held several activities for future advocacy.
A dedicated market platform for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) was launched in Puttalam in partnership with Women Organization for Development, Equality, Peace (WODEPT) Puttalam and local women leaders. The initiative was born from a critical need identified by community leaders:
despite possessing valuable skills, the PWD community in Puttalam faces significant barriers to accessing local markets, leading to economic marginalisation and social isolation. The actualisation activity addressed that gap by creating a space for artisans and producers to showcase and sell their
goods directly to the public.
Participants saw their products and their potential recognised by the wider community. The initiative fostered linkages between local authorities, civil society and the PWD community, proving that when opportunities are accessible, everyone benefits. By promoting self-employment and social inclusion, the market platform was a significant step toward building a more equitable and harmonious district where ability, not disability, defines one's contribution.
“In my family, both my elder sister and I are people with disabilities. To earn a living we sew rugs at home and take them to the Divisional Secretariat and local markets to sell. Today all my rugs were sold and I am very happy about it. I request that this market initiative continues so that we can regularly sell our products and support our livelihood,” said Parida Thiadiya.
In the rural village of Wannikudawewa, the dream of a better life through foreign employment has often been shadowed by the risk of exploitation. Recognising this, NPC partnered with local authorities and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to host an awareness programme that brought together 108 community members, police, legal experts and government officials. The goal was to equip women with the knowledge they need to navigate the migration process safely. The session addressed the issues faced by potential migrants from exorbitant broker fees and fraudulent schemes to a lack of awareness about legal protections.
By connecting the community directly with institutional support systems, the initiative transformed fear into empowerment. Women left the discussion not just with information but with a clear understanding of their rights and the formal channels available to them. The actualisation activity stands as a powerful model for reducing vulnerability and ensuring that the pursuit of economic opportunity does not come at the cost of personal safety and dignity.
For a Hindu student attending a school administered by a Christian mission in Jaffna, the morning routine involves a small but significant act of faith: applying a pottu on the forehead. But for years, in some institutions, that simple expression of devotion has been a source of anxiety. School rules, designed to uphold the religious identity of the institution, have often restricted visible symbols of other faiths such as the pottu, sacred ash and the food students bring for lunch. It is a tension between institutional tradition and personal belief and for too long students have simply accepted it.
At one Catholic school that silence was finally broken when NPC in partnership with Social Organizations Networking for Development (SOND) convened a local government authority women leaders’ actualisation activity that brought together 75 voices rarely heard in the same room: students, teachers, the zonal education officer, principals and religious leaders from the District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC). The goal was not to erase the identity of the school but to expand its understanding of inclusion.
During the discussions participants explored a powerful idea that a school can maintain its religious foundation while also creating space for the diverse beliefs of its students. Students were not just spectators; they were active participants. Through interfaith learning sessions, they discovered that while rituals and customs may differ, the moral core of every religion - compassion, gratitude and respect - is the same. Religious leaders delivered speeches that emphasised these shared human values, turning a potentially divisive topic into a celebration of unity.
A memorandum was drafted and submitted to the provincial education department, formally requesting recognition and regulatory support for students of all faiths to practice their religion freely within schools. It was a concrete step toward ensuring that no student had to choose between their faith and their education.
In the border villages of Vavuniya, a dangerous cycle has taken hold. Marginalised youth, vulnerable to unemployment and peer pressure, were increasingly falling into substance abuse. What makes this crisis even more volatile is its ripple effect. As drug use rises so do ethnic tensions with communities pointing fingers and accusing each other of fuelling the trade. Conflicts have become commonplace, threatening the fragile harmony of the district.
NPC brought together 200 youth leaders to break this cycle, assembling a coalition of resource persons from the District Drug Prevention Officer to counselling experts and religious leaders to confront the issue. The message to the youth was clear: awareness is power. Through interactive sessions, participants learned about the devastating health, social and legal consequences of drug use. The programme equipped young people with essential life skills such as decision making, confidence and the ability to resist negative peer pressure, transforming them from potential victims into active agents of change. By empowering these youth leaders to champion drug-free environments in their schools and communities, the initiative is building a network of resilience.
In an era where social media dominates public life, a new battlefield has emerged for women, especially those in leadership roles. From cyberbullying and character defamation to the misuse of personal images and organized online attacks, women in Colombo are increasingly finding themselves targets of digital abuse designed to silence and shame them.
Recognising this growing crisis, the Colombo DIRC convened a local government women leaders’ actualisation activity bringing together 60 participants, including local government women leaders, civil society representatives, religious leaders, teachers and lawyers. Resource persons from FACT Crescendo and Hashtag Generation provided practical guidance on digital literacy, fact checking and legal protections. Several women leaders committed to organizing awareness sessions within their own divisions and a consensus emerged to strengthen district level coordination for supporting victims.
For two years, DIRCs have worked quietly but persistently to build bridges between communities. NPC, in collaboration with the Darmashakthi Organization and the Colombo DIRC, convened a meeting of senior religious leaders from across the Western Province.
Presided over by the Most Venerable Amarapura Maha Nikaye Mahanayaka Assaji Thissa Thero and the Most Venerable Professor Pallekande Rathanasara Thero alongside leaders from Hindu, Christian and Anglican religions, the meeting transcended mere dialogue. It was a declaration of shared
purpose.
Joining the DIRC changed the way I see society. Today, I am able to treat people of all religions equally, with respect and understanding," said Chandrika de Zoysa, a political leader.