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Introduction to the Project

The project aims to bring equal status and development of the plantation community: on forming and strengthening the Rural Development Societies (RDS), Disaster Management Committee (DMC) and capacitate the young boys and girls in the 30 estate locations to obtain the services of Divisional Secretariat (DS), Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) and other government institutions. Also, project collaborate with the policy makers and political representatives to bring amendment to relevant legislations that bring inclusion process of Malayaga Tamilar. Furthermore, the project works on women empowerment such political representation, political leadership and to improve the decision making power at the household and society.

The politically empowered and organized target community enjoyed the government’s provisions and access to rights by demanding equality and equity.

1. Empowered members of the target groups have improved access to development projects and social services from local government institutions and ministries.
2. Women and girls of the project location successfully demanded equal access to their rights within the private as well as in the public sphere.
3. The inclusion of HTC in government acts is ensured

~ OVERVIEW ~

During the year 2015, after formation and establishment of Good Governance, Coalition Government coming into the power, the international communities and the Sri Lankan government were interested in establishing sustainable peace in the country. After three decades of civil war, based on this requirement, this government initiated to implement 32/1 UNHCR recommendations in the country to pay justice for the victims. In the meantime, Institute of Social Development (ISD) and International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) implemented a project on Transitional Justice to strengthen the government process of Transitional Justice mechanism with the support of Secretariat for Coordination on Reconciliation mechanism (SCRM).

ISD and ICSC initially conducted few focus group discussions with victim widows of affected families, similar discussion was conducted with Ministry Secretaries, District Secretaries, Head of Sri Lanka Police, Military Services and selected civil society leaders along with Minister for Reconciliation and National Unity. As an outcome, it was decided to form a network in the country consisted of Civil Society Organizations to carry out and strengthen the government transitional justice mechanism establishing the sustainable peace in the country. This network was named as Truth and Reconciliation Forum (TRF) covering 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

Since 2016, the Truth and Reconciliation Forum was strengthening the civil societies in reconciliation and promoting sustainable peace among communities by conducting awareness programmes and activities at district level.

In 2019 ISD decided to expand its activities at village level by forming and establishing Village Solidarity Forums (VSF) under Truth and Reconciliation Forums (TRF) to conduct awareness at the grassroot level to disseminate the message on coexistence and reconciliation and lobbying their grassroot level issues to the relevant authorities. In the meantime, ISD conducted coexistence and reconciliation activities for selected Directors, In Service Advisors, School Principals, on the request of the Department of Education of Central Province. A special training was initiated by ISD on Conflict Resolution targeting three-wheel drivers.

During Covid’19 pandemic ISD conducted all its planned activities with support of virtual platform and the TOT trainings are being conducted for TRF and VSF members.