About Us

Institute of Social Development (ISD) is a non-governmental organization based in Kandy Sri Lanka, established in order to empower the marginalized and discriminated Plantation community. ISD was founded in 1991 by a group of activists who initiated a dialogue on measuring the impact of development activities implemented by various sectors including the government and NGOs in the previous decade. The findings indicated that there has been no major quantitative change in the lives of the plantation community. The group concluded that unless the marginalized communities are not empowered to demand their own development and rights, development activities imposed from the outside will not be sustainable. Thus the ISD was formed to cater to this requirement. For the last two decades, ISD executed various programmes on awareness rising and capacity building in order to empower the marginalized plantation community. At the present ISD is involved in sensitizing and advocating the Plantation community in varied aspects such as Human Rights, Labor Rights, Housing and Health Rights and empowerment of Women.
 

In the year 2008, we performed two evaluations for our past four year programmes and to evaluate past activities. As a result, we have changed our vision and mission as:
 

Vision:
"Empowered plantation community mainstreamed with dignity and equal rights".
 

Mission:

"Strengthen action of plantation community towards social change based on values of equity, justice, freedom, peace and solidarity".

The organization consists of a General Council and a Board of Directors. The General council consists of founder members, professionals, expertise and worker representatives. The General Council possesses the authority to elect the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors consists of 7 members including the Executive Director of the institution.

Following are the names of the current Board of Directors:

• Mr. P Muthulingam (Director, Institute of Social Development)
• Prof. R. Sivakanesan (Head of the Dept. of Bio-chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya)
• Mr. S. Muralitharan (Advisor, GTZ)
• Prof. S. Seneviratne (Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Archeology, University of Peradeniya)
• Ms. Nilmini Weerasinghe, Teacher.
• Ms. Guary Palaniappan (Researcher)
• Ms. Pulsara Liyanage (Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Western Classics, University of Colombo)