News

The effective implementation of democracy is vital for the economic, human and social development of any developing country. Ensuring human rights and democratic practices through institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is essential. International communities such as the European Union are keen to support the protection of public rights and freedom. Their involvement in election monitoring, legal reform and development assistance is crucial.

A Training of Trainers programme for 57 supergroup women from the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa was held in Colombo under held the second phase of NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project.

A mindful storytelling workshop was held in Minuwangoda under NPC’s People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) project, aiming to address issues such as enforced disappearances and human rights violations.

A meeting was held in the Matara District under NPC’s Sustainable Peace through Pluralism and Inclusive Service Delivery project funded by Freedom House where a video documentary, which captured the challenges faced by the Malaiyaha community due to a lack of inclusion, was screened. The meeting was coordinated by Mr. Amarasena Samarathunga from Matara and facilitated by Sabaragamuwa University Senior lecturer Mr. Ravindra Palliyaguru.

The University of Jaffna hosted a district facilitation meeting for the research pods involved in the Mobilizing University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including four mentors and the university coordinator as well as the District NGO Coordinator, District Cultural Officer and District Integration Officer who contributed to discussions on the district's pressing issues.

The Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) team conducted an exchange visit for representatives from Weligama Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC), Akurana LIRC and Vavuniya LIRC to foster cultural understanding and collaboration among the diverse communities.

NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project conducted a series of training sessions in the Kalutara, Galle and Kandy districts focusing on enhancing election transparency.

A research study is being conducted in the 25 districts to understand the factors that influence voter preference in elections. This initiative is part of NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project and aims to identify the elements that guide voters' choices during elections.

Kurunegala District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC), under NPC’s Plural Action for Conflict Transformation (PACT) project, facilitated a forum for state officials and the media to discuss the problems faced by people in Bathalagoda Estate in Kurunegala to mitigate the conflict, aiming at resolution through legal means rather than confrontation. The programme was conducted with the objective educating the estate community on land rights, human rights and child protection.

An art competition and exhibition to create community awareness citizens' rights such as freedom of association, expression and assembly was held under NPC’s project Protecting Civic Space in Sri Lanka in Kurunegala.

An art competition and exhibition to create community awareness citizens' rights such as freedom of association, expression and assembly was held under NPC’s project Protecting Civic Space in Sri Lanka in Kurunegala.

NPC’s PUJA People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) project conducted meetings in Kalutara, Kegalle, Monaragala, Galle and Hambantota for District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) and Local Inter Religious Committees (LIRCs), organic formations, master trainers and state officers to promote truth telling as an essential component of the transitional justice process.

A meeting organised under NPC’s Sustainable Peace through Pluralism and Inclusive Service Delivery project funded by Freedom House brought together government officials from the Ratnapura District and Divisional Secretariats to discuss the issues faced by the Malaiyaha community regarding public service delivery.

The Bandarawela Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC), established in 2022, has made significant headway in promoting religious harmony and coexistence in the region. The committee, composed of religious leaders, government officials, civil society members and journalists, has been working to foster understanding and cooperation among different religious communities.

Under the Sustainable Peace through Pluralism and Inclusive Service Delivery project funded by Freedom House, research was carried out to identify the shortcomings in delivering public services to the Malaiyaha community. The research focused on 10 estates and divisions in the Ratnapura district in areas where the Malaiyaha community lived.

A facilitation meeting was conducted in Horana for state officials including development officers and social service officers under the Protecting Civic Space (CPS) in Sri Lanka project to identify problems in the community focusing on the freedom of association.