In Sri Lanka, there exists a notable lack of engagement between universities and government, which has created a separation between institutions that should otherwise exist in close synergy. Whilst cooperation and collaboration exist between universities and the state, the spheres of knowledge-production and policy-implementation still remain distinct in Sri Lanka. The National Peace Council of Sri Lanka’s (NPC) "Research for Reconciliation" symposium aimed to re-alter this paradigm, establishing a foundation from which new collaborative frameworks could emerge to bridge academia with governance and showcasing a model of university-state engagement that can fundamentally change how Sri Lanka approaches issues concerning reconciliation.

The Mobilizing University-State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, implemented by the NPC, has enacted a noteworthy initiative in the past two years: embedding academic research directly within local government decision-making processes at the district and divisional levels. The symposium was not just a presentation of research findings—it was a showcase of how real-time collaboration between universities and state institutions can be used to produce evidence-based solutions to some of Sri Lanka's social challenges.

Redefining Academic Purpose

What makes the MUSTER model different is its rejection of the traditional academic approach where researchers study problems from a distance and publish findings that may or may not influence policy years later. Instead, student researchers from the University of Ruhuna, University of Jaffna, Eastern University of Sri Lanka, and Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka have been working directly alongside district, divisional and other local government administrators throughout their research process.

This embedded approach means that research questions are shaped by the actual challenges facing government officials, data collection methods are designed to produce actionable insights, and findings are immediately available to inform ongoing policy decisions. The result is a form of applied research that bridges the gap between academia and governance in a way as to counter the underutilization of university research.

The symposium's structure itself reflected this effort for collaboration. Rather than simply presenting research papers to an academic audience, each university session included district secretaries and local officials as active participants, creating real-time dialogue between researchers and the government administrators who could implement their recommendations. This format ensured that academic insights were immediately tested against practical constraints and opportunities.

Data-Driven Local Governance

Perhaps the most significant outcome of the MUSTER project is its demonstration that local government decision-making can be fundamentally transformed to improve the delivery of public services through systematic integration of academic research. The twelve research projects undertaken by the MUSTER initiative weren't academic exercises—they were comprehensive analyses of specific challenges facing local communities, complete with evidence-based recommendations for actionable change.

For example, one of the research teams from Sabaragamuwa University's examined how bureaucratic processes inadvertently create barriers for minority communities. But rather than simply documenting these barriers, the research team worked with district officials to find solutions, discussing templates and protocols that government offices could adopt to streamline academic procedures. The result is administrative reform based on a rigorous empirical analysis.

 

Breaking Down Institutional Barriers

The symposium revealed how the MUSTER model has successfully overcome one of the most persistent obstacles to effective governance in post-conflict societies: the disconnect between policy intentions and ground-level realities. By embedding researchers within local communities and government operations, the project has created unprecedented transparency about implementation challenges while providing officials with analytical tools and information they previously lacked.

The University of Jaffna's research teams exemplified this approach. Working directly with local officials in the Jaffna District, the research teams analysed how post-conflict policies were actually being experienced by different communities. This real-time analysis allowed government administrators to adjust their approaches based on empirical evidence rather than relying on reports filtered through multiple bureaucratic layers.

The panel discussion featuring university coordinators alongside district secretaries demonstrated how this collaboration has created mutual learning opportunities. University researchers gained insights into the practical constraints facing local officials, while government administrators learned how to use academic research methods to analyse their own public service delivery. This knowledge transfer represents a fundamental shift toward evidence-based local governance.

 

Scaling Evidence-Based Decision Making

What emerged from the symposium was evidence that the MUSTER model has created a replicable framework for transforming local government decision-making across Sri Lanka. The research undertaken by the twelve research teams from the four universities involved have essentially served as pilot programs, demonstrating how academic institutions can become integral partners in local government operations rather than merely co-existing with minimal collaboration.

An Eastern University research team showed how this collaboration could work in practice. Rather than conducting as simple on religion and reconciliation, the research team worked with local officials in the Batticaloa District to analyse how religious institutions could be more effectively incorporated into local peace-building initiatives. The resulting recommendations weren't mere academic findings—they were policy recommendations that district officials could directly implement.

The launch of the "Research for Reconciliation" publication at the MUSTER symposium marked more than just the dissemination of the research findings. It represented the creation of a knowledge base that local governments across Sri Lanka can use to inform their own reconciliation efforts. More importantly, it demonstrated how universities can serve as ongoing research and analysis partners for government institutions that may lack the capacity to gain real empirical data for evidenced based policy implementation.

Transforming Government Capacity

Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the MUSTER model is how it has enhanced the analytical capacity of local government institutions themselves. District secretaries and divisional officials who participated in the project haven't just received research reports—they've learned research methodologies that they can apply to other challenges. This capacity building is crucial in shifting towards evidence-based governance at the local level.

The symposium's emphasis on video documentaries and community voices alongside academic presentations reflected this commitment to making research accessible and actionable for government officials. Rather than dense academic papers that might sit unread on shelves, the MUSTER project has produced multimedia resources that local officials can use for staff training, community engagement, and policy development.

 

A Model for Post-Conflict Innovation

The partnership with the Strengthening Social Cohesion & Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) project, supported by the European Union and German Federal Foreign Office through GIZ, provided the international framework, expertise and resources necessary to pilot this innovative approach. However, the MUSTER symposium demonstrated that the model's success mainly stems from its adaptation to Sri Lankan institutional realities rather than adherence to external frameworks. This approach to collaborative research and policy implementation could be scaled beyond reconciliation programming to address other national challenges currently facing Sri Lanka.

 

Toward Systematic University-State Integration

The "Research for Reconciliation" symposium should mark not just the conclusion of a successful pilot project but hopefully the beginning of a new era in university-state collaboration in Sri Lanka. The twelve research projects showcased at the symposium provide a blueprint for how academic research can be designed from the outset to support government decision-making.  The evidence presented demonstrates that when universities and government institutions work as genuine partners rather than separate entities, the result is more effective policy making and implementation, more rigorous decision-making processes, and more responsive public administration. Rather than hoping that research findings might eventually influence policy, the MUSTER model ensures that research directly informs ongoing administrative processes. This represents a fundamental shift toward evidence-based governance that has the potential to transform public service delivery in Sri Lanka.

What the implementation of the MUSTER model offers is a roadmap for systematic integration of academic expertise into the governance process. The symposium demonstrated that this integration isn't just possible—it must be essential for effective governance in complex, multi-ethnic societies seeking sustainable social harmony and cohesion.

The paradigm that the NPC’s MUSTER project envisions in university-state engagement promises to ensure that local government decisions are grounded in rigorous analysis, responsive to community needs, and adaptive to changing circumstances. This transformation of how knowledge informs governance may prove to be MUSTER's most lasting contribution to fostering reconciliation and social cohesion in Sri Lanka.

 

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD in collaboration with District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), has achieved significant progress in promoting inclusiveness, social justice and reconciliation throughout several districts.

Under Phase 3 of NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project, 21 needs based training sessions were conducted in the Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa Districts to strengthen the capacity of Super Group, Peer Group and Youth Group leaders to address community issues identified through earlier stages of the project. Each district held three focused sessions with each session tailored to the unique challenges faced by local communities.

NPC's Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, supported by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, held a research symposium on Research for Reconciliation bringing together four universities and their 12 research pods to showcase the culmination of research and community engagement work.

A research report titled Factors Guiding Voter Preference in Elections in Sri Lanka, commissioned by NPC under the EU funded project Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy, was launched in Colombo.

The study conducted by Dr. Mahesh Senanayake and Ms. Crishni Silva of the University of Colombo offers valuable insights into the key drivers of voter behaviour within Sri Lanka’s dynamic political context. It examines how factors such as economic concerns, perceptions of leadership, trust in public institutions and prevailing social issues influence electoral decisions.

Despite the challenges posed by donor restrictions and funding limitations, NPC will be entering a new phase of the Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project, which will run from May 2025 to April 2026 with continued support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Ten research pods from four universities conducted their social cohesion activities across different locations under NPC's Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, which is supported by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office. This intensive implementation phase demonstrated the project's transition from research to meaningful action.

As part of NPC’s EU-supported Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project’s efforts to advance women’s political participation, a targeted social media campaign was launched ahead of the local government elections to encourage voters to support women candidates. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the cultural barriers and negative narratives that hinder women’s participation in politics as well as the widespread mistrust surrounding their leadership capabilities.

NPC's Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, supported by Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) and Co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, achieved a significant milestone when the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka conducted a social cohesion activity at Pettigala Tamil College in Balangoda under the guidance of Dr. Chandana Pathirana. The intervention addressed educational challenges identified through their research, focusing on vocational education awareness for plantation community students.

Two research sharing sessions were conducted in Anuradhapura and Batticaloa under NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project. Project Manager Ben Perinpanayagam said that the goal of the research was to empower people to make informed decisions and encouraged participants to understand the new findings and contribute meaningfully to the decision making processes within their communities. He urged them to identify and focus on areas requiring concentrated efforts from both civil society and the government.

Under the Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) Project Phase 2, funded by National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a training programme on resource mobilisation and advocacy campaigns was held in Katunayake bringing together 75 women leaders from Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa.

NPC, through its Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project supported by Misereor and CAFOD, conducted 10 District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) meetings across the country, marking a significant step in promoting peacebuilding, civic awareness and inclusive dialogue in post-conflict regions.

A training session on the rule of law was conducted by NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project for 32 Divisional Secretariat staff in Kalutara representing 14 Divisional Secretariats across the district, marking a significant step towards enhancing good governance and service delivery at the divisional level.

 

The NPP government is under criticism for being slow to deliver on its election promises. The opposition political parties have criticised it for not delivering on its promises with regard to renegotiating the IMF agreement to be more people-friendly. The government seems to have accepted the IMF targets for revenue collection and restricting government spending to the letter. Civil society groups are critical of the government for not repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Online Safety Act (OSA) which bolster the repressive potential of the government, and which the NPP had promised to repeal. The problem with the delay in implementing promised political reforms is that it not only undermines the government’s credibility but also has the potential to undermine Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

The government did everything in its power to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the three days in April 4-6 he was in Sri Lanka. The country is known for its hospitality and the government exceeded expectations in its hospitality. There were children to greet the prime minister at the airport along with six cabinet ministers. There was a large banner that described the Indian prime minister in glowing terms. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also conferred the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana Award, the country’s highest award, to Prime Minister Modi in appreciation of friendship and cooperation. The role that the Indian government under him played in saving Sri Lanka from economic disaster three years ago would merit him nothing less. The gesture was not merely humanitarian; it was also an astute expression of regional leadership rooted in a philosophy of “neighbourhood first,” a cornerstone of Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy.

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The National Peace Council (NPC) was established as an independent and impartial national non-government organization