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.

Ninety 90 public officials, including District Secretaries, Additional and Assistant District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries and NGO Coordinators, participated in a series of two day residential seminars that took place in Colombo, Vavuniya and Badulla. With a focus on inclusive service delivery, linguistic rights and fair access for underserved areas, these sessions explored the Government Establishment Code.

The workshop in Colombo, which was organized in collaboration with the Darmashakthi Foundation and led by Dr. Darshi Thoradeniya, generated lively conversations about reconciliation and pluralism. Through cooperative activities, participants examined their critical role in fostering sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.

Facilitated by Antony Mayuran with assistance from the Federation of Institutions for Rural Management (FIRM), a partner organization, the Vavuniya session gave officials the ability to evaluate their roles in putting inclusive ideas into effect. All of the participants felt confident or extremely confident in implementing these ideas to their daily job according to post-training evaluations, which is evidence of the programme's rapid impact.

Two significant initiatives in Badulla demonstrated the district's dedication to inclusivity. Professor Nirmal Ranjith of the University of Colombo's Faculty of History led a workshop for officials that reaffirmed the state's commitment to equitable governance while Future in Our Hands (FIOH) Puttalam led a DIRC meeting that placed a high priority on interfaith understanding. With an emphasis on fostering religious unity among students in religious schools, DIRC members set the foundation for upcoming actualisation activity to advocate for inclusion in the district.

A preliminary assessment of state officers' implementation of inclusive administrative procedures was carried out in Kegalle, Puttalam, Matara, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala between July 2024 and June 2025. In their administrative duties, nine out of ten officials at the district level had successfully incorporated inclusive methods.

The following key practices were adopted by government officers after training by NPC:

• Multilingual communication in public service: Ensuring access for linguistic minorities.
• Gender sensitive service delivery: Addressing the needs of women and marginalised genders.
• Disability access adjustments: Improving infrastructure and processes for persons with disabilities.
• Community consultation in planning: Engaging diverse groups in decision making.
• Diversity in hiring and promotions: Promoting equitable representation in public institutions.
• Anti-discrimination grievance mechanisms: Establishing systems to address bias and exclusion.
• Flexible service hours for marginalised groups: Accommodating vulnerable communities' needs.

This achievement reflects the growing commitment among government officers to uphold principles of equity, accessibility and social justice in public service - a key milestone in the journey toward inclusive governance. The tangible changes observed demonstrate how capacity building can transform institutional cultures for lasting impact.

"The training changed my understanding of inclusion and pluralism in Sri Lanka. As a government officer, I had only encountered these concepts in policy documents but the facilitator brought them to life with clear language and practical examples. He showed us how to translate these principles into our daily administrative work, making the abstract deeply personal. The session on identity and privilege was a revelation; They helped me recognise my own biases and understand the value of others' experiences. I now see how laws and institutional practices can either uplift or marginalise communities and how we, as public servants, hold the power to drive change. Most importantly, I learned to approach my work with greater cultural and religious sensitivity," said T. Dharmendra, Regional Director of the Industrial Development Board.

"What made this training exceptional was its interactive nature. Instead of a one way lecture, the facilitator fostered open dialogue, encouraging questions, discussions and self-reflection. This created a safe space where learning felt collaborative, not imposed. I didn’t just gain knowledge; I felt a renewed sense of responsibility. The lessons stayed with me, reshaping how I approach my official duties with empathy and intentionality," said Sendikumaran Sumithra, a Women’s Development Officer in Vavuniya.

The workshops did more than impart knowledge; they brought a sense of responsibility among public officials to drive change from within the state structure. By bridging gaps in governance and fostering collaboration across sectors, the project is paving the way for a more inclusive and peaceful Sri Lanka.

Actualisation activities focused projects tackling important inclusion issues through community driven advocacy have begun as part of the project. Being the first of 16 districts to successfully implement one of these activities, the Batticaloa District recently celebrated a milestone and received a lot of media attention. This accomplishment establishes a standard for the other districts where comparable initiatives are currently under progress.

NPC and Human Rights Civil Committee Batticaloa mobilised 100 stakeholders, including community leaders, government officials and religious leaders, for an actualisation activity that included a rally and an awareness campaign with leaflet distribution, a signature drive and media conference. Appeals were submitted to the Batticaloa AGA, Mayor and police demanding action against political hate speech on social media.

As part of its Nuwara Eliya District actualisation activity, NPC made a field visit to Talawakele's Hollyrood Estate with nine civil society leaders, along by Nuwara Eliya DIRC Coordinator, who documented the difficulties that the Malaiyaha community faced in the Holyrood, Great Western and Watagoda estate divisions where the postal service failure has had a significant impact on people’s lives. Results from the field trip included gathering detailed information and video testimonies for a documentary that aims to elevate community perspectives. This initiative marks the first phase of a structured four step advocacy plan that will progress through targeted dialogues with the estate superintendent and postmaster followed by engagements with the District Secretary, local officials and affected families to present actionable proposals. The activity culminated in plans for direct advocacy with the Minister for Estate Infrastructure. Media coverage brought attention to these efforts, underscoring the urgency of systemic intervention.

The Kandy DIRC meeting at the Muththumaari Amman Kovil in Katugasthota united 30 interfaith leaders to advance two key priorities: fostering inter religious understanding through exposure visits for young monks and youth of minority faiths and advocating for inclusive multi-faith prayer spaces in Kandy’s government hospitals. Participants deepened their cultural awareness by observing Hindu rituals and discussing practical steps to promote cohesion.

Ratnapura DIRC convened at Jennath Jumma Mosque where 37 members addressed systemic barriers to government services for Nanperiyal estate workers, crafting collaborative solutions to improve access. Monaragala DIRC gathered 47 stakeholders at Bakinigahawela Jumma Mosque to confront the marginalisation of indigenous Vedda communities, pledging initiatives to integrate their voices into peacebuilding processes. These meetings reflect NPC’s sustained commitment to transforming interfaith dialogue into tangible progress for the most vulnerable groups.