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As part of the ongoing initiatives under NPC’s Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the European Union (EU), a team of project partners led by Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL, engaged in a series of discussions with several political parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Social Justice Party.

NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project carried out a series of intervention programmes addressing locally identified community issues. These activities, implemented across multiple districts, aimed to empower communities, improve livelihoods and promote awareness of critical social issues.

Sixteen actualisation activities were held across the country under NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD. Driven by District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs), youth leaders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), these initiatives engaged over 6,828 (1,707 direct and 5,121 indirect) beneficiaries, transforming identified issues into tangible solutions for peace and inclusion.

A series of intervention programmes for conflict resolution were organized under NPC’s Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Through this initiative, conducted in the Kandy, Matara, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle and Monaragala districts, groups identified key conflicts within their localities and worked collaboratively to empower women to take strong, solution oriented leadership in addressing them.

As part of the Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the European Union, two meetings were held in Kandy and Batticaloa to raise awareness about the significance of timely elections, bringing together 80 participants including representatives from civil society, election monitoring members, youth leaders and women leaders.

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co- funded by CAFOD, is transforming community dialogue into tangible action by bridging long standing gaps in justice, services and inclusion. Through a series of targeted actualisation activities and strategic facilitation meetings citizens, civil society and state officials are collaborating to implement concrete solutions for the most pressing local issues, turning advocacy into dignity and promises into progress. In September, 1,026 target group members were directly reached, reflecting the project’s growing impact and reach at the grassroots level.

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project, funded by Misereor and co-funded by CAFOD, implemented in collaboration with its partner organizations, marked a transition from community dialogue to tangible action.

Under the project NPC together with the Kurunegala District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC), the Kurunegala Human Rights Organization, the Road Passenger Transport Authority and the Kurunegala District Secretariat office launched an initiative to promote equality and respect for all faiths on public buses.

Women and Youth for Civic Engagement (WOICE) project teams from Monaragala, Kandy, Kegalle and Badulla carried out community interventions under the third phase of the project implemented by the NPC. Each district identified pressing local issues and organized meaningful programmes to empower communities and strengthen social cohesion. The event highlighted the importance of bridging gaps between rural communities and essential services.

As part of the EU-funded Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, an online inter country exchange learning meeting was held to share findings from recent research on factors influencing voter preference in elections and to explore strategies with Maldivian partners. The meeting was structured around three key components: the presentation of research findings, reflections on the Sri Lankan context and a joint strategy discussion in light of similar challenges in the Maldives particularly vote buying.

District level closing meetings for the final phase of NPC’s Mobilising University State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project were held with the participation of the Universities of Ruhuna and Jaffna, bringing together university academics, students and government officials representing the District Secretariat.

In a compelling and thought-provoking interview on LMD TV, the digital video platform of Lanka Monthly Digest—one of Sri Lanka’s most respected business publications—Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, shares critical insights on the country’s political transformation, anti-corruption drive, and the need for inclusive governance.

🗣️ "The most special feature of this government is that it is following the law, the rule of law, and most of the Constitution."

🗣️ "Any abuse of power is an abuse of power. Any crime is a crime."

🗣️ "The change has to come from somewhere—and the most important place for change to come is the top."

Dr. Jehan Perera highlights the shift in public perception, renewed institutional independence, and why “governance must be multiethnic” to ensure lasting peace and development. He also cautions against restrictive legislation targeting NGOs and emphasizes the urgent need to decentralize good governance practices across all levels of government.

This must-watch conversation explores:

• Sri Lanka’s progress post-economic crisis

• Efforts to rebuild public trust through accountability

• The importance of rule of law and checks & balances

• Challenges in tackling corruption at all levels

• The legacy of the Aragalaya movement

• The role of civil society and institutional integrity

👉 Watch the full interview here

A group of 47 women leaders from across Sri Lanka recently visited Parliament as part of the Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project. Featured in The Island newspaper, the article highlights how this initiative—funded by the European Union and implemented by the National Peace Council and partners—is equipping women with the knowledge and confidence to take on greater roles in governance.

-The Island (2025.08.12)

👉 Click here to read the full article featured inThe Island.

NPC’s Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation and Social Justice (PAIRS) project funded by Misereor and co- funded by CAFOD and implemented in collaboration with District Inter Religious Committees (DIRCs) and regional Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), continued to make significant strides in strengthening inclusive governance in Sri Lanka. Activities focused on building the capacity of senior government officials to institutionalise pluralism, social justice and reconciliation across multiple districts.

The Active Citizens for Elections and Democracy (ACED) project, funded by the EU and implemented by NPC in partnership with PAFFREL, Association of War Affected Women (AWAW), Centre for Communication Training (CCT) and Women and Democracy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, organized two events aimed at empowering women political leaders from across Sri Lanka. These initiatives brought together 47 women leaders representing each district, offering them opportunities to reflect, learn and advance their engagement in political processes.

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, focused on capacity building initiatives, enhancing student researchers' abilities to effectively communicate and disseminate their findings through creative and accessible methods. This enhanced dissemination capacity ensures that research addressing conflict resolution and cultural preservation reaches intended audiences, thus strengthening efforts to rebuild social cohesion and prevent the further decline of traditional practices.

Under Phase 3 of the Women Organized for Inclusion through Community Engagement (WOICE) project, an intervention was implemented in the Monaragala District to address youth unemployment called Let’s Put an End to Unemployment and Take Up Vocational Training.