An NPC-supported report on the anti-Muslim violence that occurred in Digana and Kandy in March this year, which included recommendations on how to prevent such incidents in the future, was presented to around 150 civil society leaders, government officials, academics and lawyers in Kandy.

The report, produced by the Kandy District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC), is based on the findings of a Citizens’ Truth Commission conducted by interviewing victims of the violence. Other members of the public from various fields were asked for their comments and suggestions on how to minimise racism in Sri Lanka. Three commission meetings were held in Katugastota, Uguressapitiya and Digana.

During their discussions, members of the Kandy DIRC realised that Transitional Justice mechanisms could be applied to prevent future violence and decided to come up with a model that could be used.

Firstly, it was necessary to inform people of the actual facts of the situation and then there should be social and institutional reforms such as new approaches by the media and amendments to the Constitution.

The commission, headed former Kandy Government Agent A. M. L. B. Polgolla and consisting of lawyers, university professors and high level former government officials, began its work in May.

The report was submitted to the Central Province Governor’s secretary to be given to the Governor. It was planned to send the report to the President, Prime Minister and the diplomatic community.

Victims said that although the perpetrators could be identified, most were not caught and punished. They were of the opinion that the attacks were not spontaneous but had been well organised and politically motivated. Fire fighters did not respond or came and then went away, as did the police, they said.

The recommendations of the report were:

• Have a programme to heal the psychological wounds of the Muslim community caused by the violence.
• Conduct a cultural exchange programme and an awareness programme on religious principles in coordination with the Central Province Ministry of Education, sending Muslim children to Sinhala schools and vice versa.
• Bring in stronger laws to punish those responsible for racist criminal acts through the Penal Code.
• Regulate all media and punish the media that spread false news that encourages racism. 
• Punish police officers who do not stop racist criminal acts with appropriate punishment and proper disciplinary action.
• Form committees within a legal framework in each Pradeshiya Sabha, Urban Council and Municipal Council to promote harmony.
• Make government officials responsible for building and protecting harmony in their own areas of responsibility.
• Grant the devolution of power under the 13th amendment as a priority measure.
• Grant public amnesty to LTTE detainees who have been detained without charge and soldiers arrested and detained over certain incidents so that old rivalries could be forgotten.
• Strengthen the civil administration in the North and East so that decision making and implementation could be done through a state mechanism rather than the military.
• Take all school students on visits to places of religious worship other than their own and have a cultural exchange programme through the Education Ministry.
• Bring the age of marriage under common law and set it at 18 years.
• Make school students study the basic concepts of all religions.