NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project conducted 17 activities reaching 569 youth wing members and 123 Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) members in 11 locations. These activities, which include capacitation and engagement interventions, were successful in terms of participation and impact. The feedback received from participants proves that ARC managed to ensure the quality of activities encouraging them to take the initiative to strengthen rule of law in the country.
The project is able to achieve significant progress in creating local environments conducive to religious freedom, rule of law and coexistence. Providing a specific focus on capacitating newly established youth wings and LIRCs, 16 programmes were carried out on pluralism, preventing violent extremism and the rule of law providing them the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to engage, capacitate and empower members of their communities that will, in turn, absorb them into the discourse on religious freedom and coexistence making it more inclusive.
One needs assessment was carried out targeting Weligama LIRC to determine needs, examine their nature and causes and set priorities for future action. The intervention focused on community driven events as the project envisages that the community leaders should practice the skills to take the ownership of local reconciliation process. Considering this need, upcoming activities and training will be planned.
The project team modified some training modules on the rule of law and preventing violent extremism to suit the current context and new youth target group. The rule of law module included more innovative activities to ensure the participation of youth members. Components were revised to create a dialogue among the youth groups to sustain the discourse on religious freedom while empowering them as community intermediaries in their areas.
The objective of the rule of law trainings was to improve participants’ knowledge of the existing legal framework on religious freedom both domestically and internationally, which will enable community leaders to drive the local and national discourse on the rule of law and religious freedom. Participants were educated on the domestic and international legal instruments in place to safeguard religious freedom, which includes domestic constitutional provisions, the penal code, acts and international conventions and the concept of the rule of law and how it links with religious freedom. Discussions and group activities were conducted to broaden the understanding of participants on the concepts.
Ilmullah Alam from the youth wing in Panduwasnuwara emphasised the need for enlightening the general public on their rights and available legal provisions to ensure equality before the law. “I am inspired to learn about this subject because I believe knowledgeable citizens can contribute to strengthening the rule of law in the country.”
Harshani Jayasinghe from the Kuliyapitiya youth wing said, “I think we should know the existing legal provisions for the protection of our rights. As youth leaders we need this knowledge to make change in our society for the better.”
R.M.K. Wickramasinghe, a member of the LIRC in Mawanella, emphasised the importance of learning about rights for empowering different ethno religious groups. “Mawanella is a multi ethnic area, where there have been some disputes. Learning about rights is important. As a community representative, I believe I can make a greater impact on society with the knowledge I am gaining,” she said.
Pluralism training programmes were carried to enhance community leaders’ skills, knowledge and attitudes to promote cultural, behavioural and attitudinal diversity.
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) training was designed for the newly established community platforms to guide them to take initiatives to tackle violent extremism in their areas. It will enhance youth wing members’ skills to design and carry out counter action to minimise the impact of extremist ideologies.
A member of Negombo youth wing M.F.M. Umar Moulavi thought it required collective efforts to fight against extremist ideologies. “It is challenging to change the mindsets of some of the communities. That is why, as youth, we need to create more constructive initiatives to strategically address prevailing extremist ideologies,” he said.
LIRCs are tasked with providing an open space where ethnic and religious groups can bring forth their issues and concerns in search of holistic solutions. During the need assessment, Weligama LIRC discussed future initiatives that could be taken to address immediate needs of their communities.
T.L.N.S. Mendis, Divisional Secretary in Weligama, praised NPC’s efforts in building relations among different ethno religious groups. “We had a productive discussion oInitiatives to Strengthen Commitment to Religious Coexistence NPC’s Action for Religious Coexistence (ARC) project conducted 17 activities reaching 569 youth wing members and 123 Local Inter Religious Committee (LIRC) members in 11 locations. These activities, which include capacitation and engagement interventions, were successful in terms of participation and impact. The feedback received from participants proves that ARC managed to ensure the quality of activities encouraging them to take the initiative to strengthen rule of law in the country.
The project is able to achieve significant progress in creating local environments conducive to religious freedom, rule of law and coexistence. Providing a specific focus on capacitating newly established youth wings and LIRCs, 16 programmes were carried out on pluralism, preventing violent extremism and the rule of law providing them the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to engage, capacitate and empower members of their communities that will, in turn, absorb them into the discourse on religious freedom and coexistence making it more inclusive.
One needs assessment was carried out targeting Weligama LIRC to determine needs, examine their nature and causes and set priorities for future action. The intervention focused on community driven events as the project envisages that the community leaders should practice the skills to take the ownership of local reconciliation process. Considering this need, upcoming activities and training will be planned.
The project team modified some training modules on the rule of law and preventing violent extremism to suit the current context and new youth target group. The rule of law module included more innovative activities to ensure the participation of youth members. Components were revised to create a dialogue among the youth groups to sustain the discourse on religious freedom while empowering them as community intermediaries in their areas.
The objective of the rule of law trainings was to improve participants’ knowledge of the existing legal framework on religious freedom both domestically and internationally, which will enable community leaders to drive the local and national discourse on the rule of law and religious freedom. Participants were educated on the domestic and international legal instruments in place to safeguard religious freedom, which includes domestic constitutional provisions, the penal code, acts and international conventions and the concept of the rule of law and how it links with religious freedom. Discussions and group activities were conducted to broaden the understanding of participants on the concepts.
Ilmullah Alam from the youth wing in Panduwasnuwara emphasised the need for enlightening the general public on their rights and available legal provisions to ensure equality before the law. “I am inspired to learn about this subject because I believe knowledgeable citizens can contribute to strengthening the rule of law in the country.”
Harshani Jayasinghe from the Kuliyapitiya youth wing said, “I think we should know the existing legal provisions for the protection of our rights. As youth leaders we need this knowledge to make change in our society for the better.”
R.M.K. Wickramasinghe, a member of the LIRC in Mawanella, emphasised the importance of learning about rights for empowering different ethno religious groups. “Mawanella is a multi ethnic area, where there have been some disputes. Learning about rights is important. As a community representative, I believe I can make a greater impact on society with the knowledge I am gaining,” she said.
Pluralism training programmes were carried to enhance community leaders’ skills, knowledge and attitudes to promote cultural, behavioural and attitudinal diversity.
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) training was designed for the newly established community platforms to guide them to take initiatives to tackle violent extremism in their areas. It will enhance youth wing members’ skills to design and carry out counter action to minimise the impact of extremist ideologies.
A member of Negombo youth wing M.F.M. Umar Moulavi thought it required collective efforts to fight against extremist ideologies. “It is challenging to change the mindsets of some of the communities. That is why, as youth, we need to create more constructive initiatives to strategically address prevailing extremist ideologies,” he said.
LIRCs are tasked with providing an open space where ethnic and religious groups can bring forth their issues and concerns in search of holistic solutions. During the need assessment, Weligama LIRC discussed future initiatives that could be taken to address immediate needs of their communities.
T.L.N.S. Mendis, Divisional Secretary in Weligama, praised NPC’s efforts in building relations among different ethno religious groups. “We had a productive discussion on tensions in the area while discussing possible solutions. As LIRC members, you have a responsibility to take action to sustain peaceful coexistence among the communities in Weligama,” she said.n tensions in the area while discussing possible solutions. As LIRC members, you have a responsibility to take action to sustain peaceful coexistence among the communities in Weligama,” she said.