Inter Community Student Exchanges

Students at the Cultural Programme , Inter Student Exchange PRogramme 2006

This series was set up with the objective of promoting inter-communal tolerance, appreciation of diversity & “peace culture” among teachers and students in schools island-wide. In fulfillment of the broad objective of the programme which is to foster inter-community friendship and understanding among the younger generation, activities such as philosophical debates, joint art and culture programmes and a periodical inter -school newsletter were planned.  The results of the Student Exchange Series have been extremely heartening and show a significant change in attitudes.  This program which attracted wide media coverage, initially involved the participation of 45 schools in 15 districts. It is planned to increase this number bringing the total involvement to 300 schools.

 

Provincial Needs Assesment 2008

PNA CONCEPT 2008

 

 

Outreach Unit worked on two parallel programmes on the theme of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Provincial Councils and Devolution of Power, during the period March –May 2008. This programme was supported by Development Alternatives Inc through USAID,

 

A preliminary round of One Day Regional Meetings was held at each of the Provincial Council auditoriums with the attendance of the Chairman, Chief Ministers, Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretaries and when possible of the Governor, with the purpose of outlining the concept of this programme, garnering support and participation of Provincial Council officials, and clarifying logistics for the proposed residential workshops.

 

Participant suggestions were gathered on the areas to be addressed at the planned workshops.  This was followed by a series of in depth Three Day Regional Workshops on Strengthening the Provincial Council Process.

Resource persons included Rohan Edrisinha, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Colombo

 

University and Head of the Legal and Constitutional Unit; S.G Punchihewa, Attorney-at-Law, National Trainer and Author; Ashoka Gunewardena, Chairman, Finance Commission, among others.

 

The residential workshops aimed to collect and document suggestions and experiences, success stories and challenges faced by participant Provincial Council personnel which would contribute to a final set of recommendations towards Provincial Council Reform.

 

 

The final report based on a set of recommendations reached at these workshops were published and presented to all concerned at the National Conference on Provincial Councils held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference hall (BMICH) on the 28th May 2008.

Outreach Unit Publications

• Ethnic Problem and its Solutions (Lionel Guruge)
• The Ethnic Conflict and the Responsibilities of Ethnic Minorities;
• Devolution of Power; Evolution of the Federal Concept in Sri Lanka;
• Buddhism and Conflict Resolution;
• Local Governance; Regional Government & Roles and Responsibilities of their Representatives;
• Local Government Institutions;
• Regional Governance, Aims, Origin and Procedures;
• Local Governance and your right to information;
• Strengthening the Provincial Council System;
• Power Sharing, the Federal Idea and Sri Lanka; etc.
• LEXICON on the Federal Idea (with Legal Unit CPA)

Working with Youth

Student Monks at the Conference on Federalism

 

OUTREACH UNIT MANDATE

our mandate:

complementing

CPA-initiated    

interventions by spreading

awareness

among citizens to facilitate an informed public dialogue

   on relevant issues towards an overall goal of peace, democracy

and good governance

Warm Greetings from the Outreach Unit!

         

Welcome to my blog, the unofficial information cache for CPA’s Outreach Unit. You can find information and news on the latest events in our programmes and lots of visuals. (and note- the organisation  is not responsible for any of the opinions here: they are my own…) I hope you find this informative and interesting and visit regularly. We would love to hear what you think, so please take time to send us feedback.

best regards,

Lionel Guruge.

 Photos © Supun Madusanketa, Colombo