Under its Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project NPC, in collaboration with the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, the Walapane and Nildandahinna Divisional Secretariats, the Nuwara Eliya District Inter Religious Committee (DIRC) and the Cultural and Environment Society, organised a special mobile service programme on delivering effective services for communities affected by the Ditwah cyclone.
The programme was implemented by Nuwara Eliya DIRC to address the urgent needs of communities affected by the disaster, covering 110 Grama Niladhari Divisions across the district and benefitting over 3,000 people.
Many families lost essential documents, including birth certificates, identity cards, marriage certificates and death certificates. The remoteness of the areas, together with the absence of these documents, created significant barriers to accessing government relief and other public services.
To address these challenges, the programme set up a one stop service platform that brought together relevant government institutions to provide direct services and support to beneficiaries. The government institutions participating in the programme included the Pradeshiya Sabha, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the Disaster Relief Services Division, the District and Provincial Road Development Authorities, Regional Agrarian Service Centres and Small Enterprise Development Units, who provided on site assistance and services enabling affected families to obtain information, submit applications and access services.
The special mobile service clinic was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madura Seneviratne, District Secretary of Nuwara Eliya, Additional District Secretaries, the Divisional Secretaries of Walapane and Nildandahinna, field level government officials and stakeholders.
Also under the project, a civil society dialogue on strengthening the national reconciliation process was held in Anuradhapura organised by NPC together with Anuradhapura DIRC, the District Citizens’ Committee and the NGO Consortium, bringing together 110 participants including civil society leaders, government officers and media representatives.
Sessions at the meeting included social issues related to missing persons, building reconciliation and the responsibility of civil society in building a just society. The facilitators were Mr. Manjula Gajanayake, Executive Director, Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies; Professor Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, University of Colombo; and Mr. Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL.
Participants discussed a range of issues related to reconciliation as well as the current political, economic and social situation, sharing their views, raising concerns and exchanging ideas on the challenges facing society and the role of citizens and civil society organisations in promoting reconciliation, social justice and democratic values.
“People need not only food but also dignity and recognition. Families of missing persons need hope and society must continue to have open discussions on this issue. In a democratic society, both the power of the people and the authority of the government should always be exercised for the public good. However, for many years, we have witnessed governments that have failed to prioritise the welfare of the people. This is why it is important to continue these discussions. Citizens and civil society must not become passive or silent. If civil society remains inactive, it creates space for authoritarian rule to grow,” said Mr. R.M. Nihal Rathnayaka from the March 12 Campaign.
“When discussing the issue of missing persons, an important question is what steps the government plans to take in the future. Whether they are Sinhala or Tamil, there are still many parents who continue to live in the hope that one day their children will return home. Another key concern is the support provided to the families of the missing. While some may receive material assistance, they have still not received adequate psychological support or clear answers about the fate of their loved ones. These families continue to seek truth, justice and closure,” said Ms. Gangani Dissanayaka, Chairperson of the Aurora Foundation.
In Kegalle, the team distributed supplies to a school and an elders’ home impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. In collaboration with Kegalle DIRC and the People Development Foundation library cupboards, tables and a collection of library books were handed over to a rural school. A storage cupboard, kitchen racks, walking aids and crutches were donated to an elders’ home.
The team worked with the Monaragala District Secretariat, Monaragala and Medagama Divisional Secretariats and the Community Resource Protection Centre to distribute dry rations to 49 families whose houses were destroyed by the cyclone and were facing livelihood challenges. The majority of the beneficiaries were from the Malaiyaha Tamil community, one of the most vulnerable groups impacted by the disaster.
An youth actualisation activity was held under the project in collaboration with the University Of Jaffna and Social Organization Networking For Development, bringing together 60 participants, including Jaffna University students representing different religions.
Student leaders said that Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim students at Jaffna University were experiencing poor understanding and weak relationships due to cultural differences, language barriers and limited interaction. The students emphasised the need for inclusive activities, dialogue and collaboration to build mutual respect, strengthen communication and promote peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups at the university.
The event offered an opportunity for students from the three communities to discuss the issues that prevented them from working together effectively. They were able to share personal experiences, understand each other’s perspectives and collectively explore practical solutions. The programme built mutual respect, strengthened relationships and encouraged a more collaborative atmosphere.
“The event was useful and meaningful for all of us. The workshop provided a valuable platform to learn from one another and appreciate our differences. It created a friendly and respectful environment where students from diverse backgrounds could come together and share their thoughts openly. We had the opportunity to directly discuss our problems and concerns with fellow students. I would like to express my gratitude to NPC and the university administration for organising such an impactful event. More programmes like will greatly contribute to harmony and cooperation among students,” said Nayomi from the Jaffna University Faculty of Law.