ObjectivesFund scope
Sri Lanka experienced a 26 yearlong civil war from 1983 to 2009. Despite the end of the war, little was done to tackle the causes of the conflict and address underlying grievances. The ethno-politicization of the state in Sri Lanka has resulted in discriminatory policies and practices in employment, education, public security, land use, and civic administration, which has infringed on the civic and political as well as socio-economic and cultural rights of minorities. This has had a devastating impact on their trust and confidence in the state.
However with the political transition that occurred in January 2015 and the formation of a national interim Government, people have had high expectations for tangible, positive changes in society. Both the President and Prime Minister have stated that they are politically committed to securing long-term peace and reconciliation based on the principles of good governance and strengthening democratic institutions.
Moreover, in October 2015, the Human Rights Council Resolution entitled “Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka” was adopted by consensus. The Resolution calls for the international community, including the UN, to support the Government in delivering durable solutions for Internally Displaced People (IDPs). In response, the Government, with the support of the UN, developed the Peacebuilding Priority Plan (PPP) to identify priority actions needed to address issues relating to transitional justice, reconciliation, good governance, and resettlement and durable solutions.
In 2017, the EU in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN created the Catalytic Support to Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka Programme to support the Government’s efforts to consolidate and sustain the peace and democracy gains made since 2015.
Strategic framework
With the adoption of the Human Rights Council Resolution and the development of the PPP, the Joint Programme seeks to capitalize on this transition period by providing support to the Government to achieve the priorities identified in the PPP. These priorities include transitional justice, reconciliation, good governance and resettlement, and durable solutions.
Through technical assistance and capacity development, the Joint Programme is:
- Advancing progress in the Government implementation of transitional justice;
- Increasing public awareness and engagement on the peacebuilding process;
- Strengthening the capacity of key state institutions such as the Parliament, Provincial Councils, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the National Police Commission to perform their functions through provision of technical support; and
- Promoting resettlement and durable solutions through access to an integrated and sustainable package of socioeconomic services in support of wider peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts.