News

A progress review meeting under NPC’s Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, supported by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, was held in Batticaloa bringing together officials from the Batticaloa District Secretariat and research pods from the Eastern University of Sri Lanka (EUSL) to assess the project’s progress and determine the next steps.

NPC’s People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) project conducted its second district level activity session in Batticaloa to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) to effectively advocate for meaningful truth telling regarding enforced disappearances.

Under NPC’s Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, supported by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (Scope/GIZ) and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, two initiatives focusing on knowledge sharing, research progress and capacity building were completed.

NPC hosted District Inter Religious Committee meetings under the Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project funded by Misereor and CAFOD in the Anuradhapura, Colombo, Jaffna and Polonnaruwa districts to foster harmony and unity among Sri Lanka’s diverse ethnic and religious groups with a focus on deepening understanding of Hindu culture.

As part of NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the EU, to promote a youth quota in government, a series of online meetings and research sharing sessions were conducted to empower youth to participate in the electoral process and to advocate for representation at all levels of government.

A mediation training session under NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project was held in Trincomalee for Local Inter Religious Committees (LIRCs), youth leaders and NGO representatives to enhance their skills in conflict resolution and foster mutual understanding.

An issue mapping programme for women and youth to identify and prioritise local issues was held in Matara under NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through CommunityEngagement (WOICE) project. Ms. Sereen Tahir from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the project's donor, participated in the discussions and shared her observations.

Enforced disappearance remains a deeply painful issue. The People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) project is dedicated to sharing the stories of victims, survivors, families and communities across ethnic divides. Through these narratives, the project aims to foster empathy and solidarity among the broader public. The PUJA team conducted field visits in the districts of Ratnapura and Puttalam, gathering 10 stories - seven from Sinhala families and three from Muslim families.

Under the Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER-GIZ) initiative, two district based training workshops were conducted to equip university students with practical understanding and tools to address key societal issues. The workshops, attended by research pod students from the University of Jaffna (UOJ) and the University of Ruhuna (UOR), focused on pluralism, gender equality, inclusiveness and the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE). Each workshop sought to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in the participants' respective research fields and communities.

A training programme for state officers aimed at fostering inclusive governance was held under NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) in collaboration with district secretariats and partner organizations.

NPC, under the Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, has taken significant steps towards promoting inclusive governance by addressing negative perceptions of power devolution and encouraging broader participation in provincial elections. As part of this initiative, NPC conducted a series of district level training sessions focusing on power devolution and its potential to create a more inclusive governance system.

NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project conducted issue mapping programmes in the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, and Polonnaruwa. The programmes identified key community challenges from a grassroots perspective while fostering trust and recognition for Super Group leaders as empowered advocates for local concerns. Three critical issues were prioritized in each district, laying the groundwork for meaningful action.

NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project held a partner meeting in Minuwangoda for 25 participants from 14 locations across 13 districts, marking a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and sharing insights. The meeting focused on planning for the upcoming year, addressing programmatic and financial aspects and sharing impactful stories from various communities. The exchange highlighted the ongoing efforts to promote religious freedom in diverse communities of Sri Lanka.

The People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) Project team visited the Badulla district, focusing on the villages of Passara and surrounding areas, to gather stories of enforced disappearances. The visit was part of ongoing effort to document 150 narratives of victims and survivors, shedding light on the devastating impact of Sri Lanka's civil war and enforced disappearances. These stories will be shared on puja.lk, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of those affected and fostering dialogue on justice and reconciliation.

An experience sharing session was held in Minuwangoda under NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project for 23 youth participants from 14 locations who had taken part in the youth placement programme conducted in August.

A grassroots campaign was conducted in seven districts to promote women’s political representation in parliamentary elections under the second phase of NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project in Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa. The campaign aimed to inform voters about the importance of electing female candidates and encourage inclusive political representation. It included the distribution of 7,000 informational leaflets and 3,500 awareness stickers that explained the importance of electing women to support transparent and accountable governance.