Sri Lanka

For over 20 years, we have supported the growth of peace leadership in Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on inter-ethnic reconciliation and grassroots interfaith activism. We currently partner with community-based religious leaders to create networks for violence prevention.

SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS INTERFAITH PEACEBUILDING (2013-present)

We continue to support local interfaith councils that were formed during our 2011-2013 program in Sri Lanka, which remain active today. Though these councils, community-based religious leaders are working in their communities to foster reconciliation, build cooperation among youth of different faiths, counteract misinformation and hate speech about minority groups, and use their influence to prevent new conflicts from escalating.

INTER-RELIGIOUS COOPERATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT (2011-2013)

To help address deep inter-ethnic tensions forged by 26 years of civil war, this program brought together 160 Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian religious leaders in Sri Lanka’s Eastern province. Following series of dialogues, workshops, and trainings, the leaders worked in interfaith teams to implement 53 community-based projects designed to promote inter-ethnic reconciliation, which in turn reached more than 5,000 community members.

TEAM 1325 AND WOMEN IN SRI LANKA: BUILDING A COMMON PLATFORM FOR PEACE (2008)

In partnership with the Association of War Affected Women, and with gender expert Sanam Anderlini, we led a seminar for women that focused on Sri Lankan applications of UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security along with women’s coalition building across differences of ethnicity and geographical region. Workshop participants developed an action plan for continued work together. We also held a UN Resolution 1325 conference in Colombo to encourage women’s participation in future peace negotiations.

PREPARING FOR PEACE: LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION (2003-2005)

This two-year training-of-trainers program mentored 25 participants to lead their own reconciliation projects for all sectors of society. Participants, who represented all ethnic groups and regions of Sri Lanka, were also mentored in designing and facilitating peacebuilding workshops for area residents. During the course of the program, participants created projects that they led in multi-ethnic teams.

Karuna in the World

Subscribe to our email list and receive news, events, and program updates delivered to your inbox.

Registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization