Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has endured more than three decades of inter-ethnic conflict. Since the government of Sri Lanka declared a military victory over the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) in May of 2009, ending a three decade-long armed conflict, the country must now work towards achieving lasting peace. In addition to the armed conflict, polarized socio, political and economic views, the continued exclusion of key groups in decision making and the lack of voice for differing groups threaten to slow Sri Lanka's growth, and retract from gains made over the last century. In Sri Lanka, there is a need for a reconciliation process across the different communities before a fully developed democratic state can be achieved. Further, the government's stand to unite the country under one banner and bridge gaps between the various social, economic, political, religious and cultural divides and strata, although a profound statement, needs to be backed by initiatives to ensure the realization of such at the national and local levels. The end of the armed conflict also creates room for several key opportunities: vast social and economic growth, the restoration of stability throughout the country, and reconciliation without violence. Fundamental to pursuing these goals is ensuring that the peace dividend is equitable, inclusive, just, and democratic, and does not exacerbate but rather bridges the present political and ethnic divides.

Promoting CIVIC PARTICIPATION in the Hill Country

SFCG in Sri Lanka, with support from the US State Department, and in partnership with The Power Foundation and Sewalanka Foundation, initiated work in early 2011 in the Hill Country. The program in Sri Lanka reaches the Indian Origin Hill Tamil population in both the Central and Uva Provinces (with specific reference to the Nuwara- Eliya and Badulla Districts), and seeks to create greater awareness around civic participation and other legal, social, economic and cultural rights. It also seeks to empower youth living on the plantations to become agents of positive social change by promoting community responsibility and the facilitation of more effective and relevant service delivery. Since their arrival in Sri Lanka from India in the 1830s under British rule, these communities have been laborers on tea, rubber and coffee estates. The departure of the British in 1948 left the population disenfranchised and considered stateless persons by the Sinhalese nationalist government. The micro political and economic forces in the Hill County proved insufficient to ensure socio-economic development that matched the rest of the country. In addition to the poor quality of life, they are still subject to the "plantation structure" where they are dependent on the plantation owners for basic services such as water, electricity, roads & infrastructure development, and the issuing of records for identification documents.

Working with two well-recognized NGOs in the Hill Country – The Power Foundation and Sewalanka Foundation – SFCG will engage youth leaders in a process designed to develop their leadership capacity, civic engagement skills, and ability to design community interventions. The project will also facilitate the inclusion of youth in community decision making by facilitating inter-generational forums, bringing together youth and relevant key power brokers from their communities to address pressing citizenship and legal rights issues. Understanding that radio can play a crucial role both in inflaming conflict and in defusing it, SFCG in Sri Lanka will create entertaining programs to impact how people think about themselves, their neighbors and their society. The media strategy includes 32-episode radio dramas reaching out to the greater Hill Country population providing key messages about civic, legal, socio, economic and cultural rights and remedies. Additionally, a series of interactive radio talk shows will seek to engage key speakers, including youth leaders, local government officials, plantation owners, and academics, who will be able to give advice and provide concrete actions for various civic participation and legal, socio, economic and cultural related problems.

Stree Mela

SFCG Sri Lanka, as part of the N-Peace Network*, recently participated in a 3-day event in Colombo from December 8-10, 2011 aimed at promoting women's leadership. The event, entitled Stree Mela, was organized by a broad coalition of women's groups and senior female politicians. Striving to create better social cohesion by uniting women from different ethnic, religious, linguistic, and ideological backgrounds, the occasion was the culmination of a larger effort to find common ground amongst these groups as well as raise public and political awareness on female empowerment-related issues. SFCG Sri Lanka's Country Director also served as a panelist during a discussion on the role of media in promoting peace and female empowerment.  

SFCG's Sri Lanka Country Director, Nawaz Mohammed, participates in the panel discussion (far left)

Additionally, SFCG screened a documentary on the inaugural N-Peace Award winners as well as provided information on the current work being done within the N-Peace Network, emphasizing the achievements of Sri Lankan women on the international stage. The former Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Bandaranaike, members of parliament, female politicians and grassroots female activists gave their support for this initiative. SFCG staff also reported an overwhelming interest from participants to join the N-Peace network and continue to be informed of its activities.

NOTE: The N-PEACE network provides support to an array of organizations and women leaders, training and a forum to voice their ideas, experiences and contributions in Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste as well as at a regional-level. 

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