News

In Kandy, a group of women is paving the way to enhance political representation for women within the region. These trailblazers were initially part of the Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE), a project that covered seven districts across Sri Lanka. Although the project has concluded, their commitment to fostering change in their communities continues.

The progress review meeting of the advanced certificate course on Sustainable Peace and Inclusive Service Delivery through Diversity was conducted in Negombo with the participation of representatives from Eastern, Jaffna, Ruhunu and Sabaragamuwa Universities, facilitated by NPC Chairman Dr. Joe William, NPC Treasurer Prof. T. Jayasingham and NPC Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera.

The Outcome Harvesting Programme was held in Negombo, bringing together 28 participants from Local Inter Religious Committees (LIRCs) to share and analyse their success stories.

To work effectively on topics such as peace and reconciliation across communities with a variety of stakeholders requires knowledge and confidence in facilitation skills and workshop design.

A facilitation meeting was held in Kandy as an activity of NPC’s Protecting Civic Space in Sri Lanka (PCS) project to identify problems in the community and conduct appropriate measures focusing on freedom of association.

NPC continued its tradition of celebrating days that connect us all by marking Tamil and Sinhala New Year, focusing on the themes of the universe, the sun and unity.

In a world where the voices of youth are increasingly important, initiatives that nurture their potential to become tomorrow's leaders are essential. Recognizing this, the ARC project team recently organized a three-day residential training program aimed at religious coexistence and Mobile Journalism (MOJO).

WOICE sounds like voice, and the w stands for women. However, do women have a voice to articulate their difficulties and their needs? Do they have a voice to speak against the violence that goes on in their communities?

Under NPC’s Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) project, the Dehiovita Divisional Secretariat conducted a social cohesion activity focussing on International Women’s Day with the participation of over 130 women representing all ethnicities.

NPC’s People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) project, aimed at promoting community development and wellbeing, held a partner orientation and self-care training session held for 37 participants from partner organizations such as the Center for Human Rights and Development, Peace and Community Action and Right to Life. The training programme familiarised partners with the project's goals and equipped them with skills to support vulnerable communities while enhancing their own mental wellbeing through interactive sessions on stress management, emotional regulation and trauma care.

Under NPC’s project Sustainable Peace through Pluralism and Inclusive Service Delivery funded by Freedom House, a meeting was conducted in Ratnapura to draft a questionnaire for research aimed at identifying shortcomings in public services facing the community.

The Global Pluralism Monitor Workshop offered a platform for open dialogue on the state of pluralism in Sri Lanka. By bringing together 47 participants including religious leaders from Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity as well as men and women representing District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) from 17 districts, the workshop highlighted the challenges and opportunities faced in creating a more inclusive and equitable society. The discussion was guided by the Global Pluralism Monitor Framework.

The Negombo Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) organized a meeting for religious leaders, civil society members and government officers under NPC’s project Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) to highlight the potential of advocacy work.

For the first time, Adam's Peak stood as a testament to unity and peace, decorated with messages in both Sinhala and Tamil, marking a historic moment of collective commitment towards bridging gaps between communities.

NPC’s Welfare Society organised a Lenten event for staff as part of a broader approach to promote understanding and tolerance among its staff members of different faiths.

The National Symposium on Religions to Reconcile: Strengthening Inclusive Reconciliation was held in Colombo under NPC’s Plural Action for Conflict Transformation (PACT) project, marking the conclusion of the project that covered 17 districts.